Regina, SK – The UFV Cascades trailed by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter, and their late comeback bid fell just short as the Regina Cougars came away with the 81-80 victory on Saturday night. The result sees UFV fall to 3-5 this season, while Regina improves to 6-0 to start the season.

As it happened: 
Not much could separate the two teams in the opening quarter, as Dario Lopez gave the Cascades a lead late before Harold Luke hit a triple to give his team a one-point advantage going into the second frame.

The teams continued to trade blows in the second, but the largest lead either team could muster was UFV's four-point margin after an Uyi Ologhola bucket with eight seconds to go. However, A triple at the buzzer by Lodie Kenyi made it just a one-point game at the half.

The game began to open up in the third, and another Kenyi shot from beyond the arc gave Regina a nine-point lead. Jake Willemsen answered with a triple of his own, but the Cascades still went into the final frame down five.

A 12-0 run in the middle of the fourth gave the Cougars a 73-60 lead with 4:09 remaining, but six quick free throws from Dylan Kinley helped bring the Cascades within seven with just under three to go. Back-to-back buckets late from Ismael Hernandez made it a two-point game with 12 seconds to play, but a foul sent Regina's Nick Barnard to the line. He hit both free throws to make it a four-point deficit with six seconds left, and despite a three from Kinley at the buzzer, the Cascades came up just a point short.

Top performers: 
Kinley notched 23 points and eight rebounds for the Cascades, while Hernandez had 14 points and Hans Befus added 13. Lopez finished with 11 points and seven boards on the night.

Nick Barnard ended the game with 33 points and seven rebounds, while Matt Barnard had 11 points and five boards.  

Up next:
The Cascades move into the winter break, with their next action coming on January 5 and 6 as they take on Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.