THUNDER BAY, ON – The Lakehead University men’s basketball team will be on the road this weekend for a pair of games against the Regina Cougars. Games times are Friday and Saturday at 7 pm local time (9 pm Eastern).
The Regina team is 1-1 thus far in exhibition play this year, with a 80-72 loss to Montana State-Northern and a 94-78 win over Medicine Hat College, thus the doubleheader against Lakehead will be their first CIS competition of the year.
The Cougars are powered by veteran post Paul Gareau, who holds the Regina all-time record for field-goal % in a game (.789, 15 of 19 against Brandon in 2008), and scored 42 points in a game versus the Calgary Dinos last year. Gareau averaged .570 from the field and 18.7 ppg in 2010-11, and in his two games this year has scored 25 and 28 points. His success depends heavily on his ability to get to the free throw line, as he averages over 12 attempts per game and shoots over 80%.
Lakehead defeated the Cougars twice last year in exhibition play, 110-89 and 88-64 in the Thunderdome. Thunder Bay 4th-year big man Matt Schmidt had 18 points in the 21-point victory, and is poised to continue battling hard on the glass for his team. Schmidt, along with fellow posts Yoosrie Salhia and Brendan King will have his hands full guarding Cougars’ star Paul Gareau.
Coach Scott Morrison doesn’t discount the ability of the Cougar’s on their home court and the importance of this match up:
“This is our most important non conference game to date as it represents our last CIS competition before the OUA season. Our goal is to put forth two consecutive solid efforts, just as we will have to do each weekend from November until March. Regina is a well coached team with some new players we will have to respect as all-around threats. Paul Gareau is one of the toughest scorers in the Can West and will represent our toughest matchup to date this year.”
Game time is 7 pm both evenings (9 pm Thunder Bay time)
Live stats of the game will be available Friday, but no coverage will be given on Saturday. See www.canadawest.tv for live stats.