REGINA — The Winnipeg Wesmen thought they had a game-winner until a buzzer-beater broke their hearts.

Matt Barnard hit a contested jumper as time expired to give the Regina Cougars a come-from-behind 72-71 win over the Wesmen men's basketball team in a Canada West conference game Friday night. 

The game-winning shot came moments after Billy Yaworsky tipped home a Narcisse Ambanza miss with 2.5 seconds left in the game to give the Wesmen (2-3) a temporary lead. 

The Wesmen were outscored 24-14 in the fourth quarter as the Cougars erased a double-digit second-half deficit.

Ambanza and Yaworsky both finished with 20 points and double-doubles. Yaworsky had 12 rebounds and Ambanza added 11. 

Brayden Kuski led a balanced Regina attack with 12 points. Sam and Ben Hillis both had 11 points, and Barnard and Carter Millar added 10.

The Wesmen shot 36.1 per cent from the field and Regina 37.7. Winnipeg was 5-for-25 from three and Regina, which started 1-for-17, finished 5-for-29.

The two teams meet again Saturday night.

—#REPTHEW—