REGINA SCORES AT BUZZER TO SINK WOLFPACK IN OVERTIME

for immediate release: November 20, 2008

Kamloops--Steven Christie probably ate for free when the University of Regina Cougars went for their post game meal. And why not? The 4 th year Center (Cochrane, Alberta) had every right.   The 6'9" Christie tipped the ball in as the buzzer went to give his Cougars a 89-87 overtime victory over the home town Thompson Rivers University WolfPack in CIS Men's basketball action at the Tournament Capital Center.

"Its pure luck," said a very happy Cougars boss James Hillis "We didn't deserve to win this game. We'll take it...I'm not going to turn in. Its the bobble at the end, a tap and the ball rolling around and it goes in. I feel for them (the WolfPack). I've been on the rear end of a couple of those. They are hard.  They played well enough to win today. We got a couple of bounces."

Christie stole the ball off WolfPack forward Jeff Friesen (4 th year, Duncan, BC) on his way to the winning bucket.

Regina got some key three point shots from 3rd year guard Jeff Lukomski (Regina, Sask) in the last two minutes of a very scrambly overtime.  He was the Cougars top scorer with 24 points.

"The fans that were here were treated to a lot of excitement and energy, " said WolfPack Coach Thom Gillespie." It wasn't the best basketball, but certainly both teams put out a great effort."

The Cougars led 39-37 at half time and were up by 9---62-53 at three quarter time.  The teams finished regulation play deadlocked at 74.

"We turned the ball over when we had a chance to win it," Gillespie reflected "Worst case scenerio, a chance to go to a second overtime.  I have to give Christie credit for busting his butt to get to the hoop to tip it in where it could have been a rebound and a missed shot. They earned the win in that respect."

Jamal Williams  (4th year,forward, Regina, Sask) had 21 points for Regina.
Drew Bleth (4th year, guard, Ridgefield, Wash) led the way for TRU with 26 points and 11 rebounds.  Greg Stewart (forward, 3rd year, Kamloops, BC) chipped in with 16 points. He added seven blocks.

"We came in with a goal to take it to Stewart a bit," said Hillis. " We felt he could be a real factor. We didn't think he would last to overtime without fouling out.  I give credit to Thom (Gillespie). They switch things to keep Stewart around the basket without playing zone. But we shoot the ball pretty well, sometimes there are holes in zones. They did a good job of keeping him in the game."

"One of our goals and focus was to take care of the boards," said Gillespie.  "We actually won the battle of the boards today which is very important for us.  The difference was we turned over the ball too many times.  It cost us."

First year guard Hudson Naylor (Kamloops, BC) had 11 points in 26 minutes.
"He did some great things in bringing some energy," stated Gillespie. " A couple of the other guys were struggling a bit. Hudson did a good job. That certainly bodes well knowing that we have another back court guy to rely on."

With the win, The Cougars move to 4 and 3.  The WolfPack fall to 2 and 7.  Saturday (Nov 22), TRU entertains Brandon while Regina visits University of the Fraser Valley.