WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons men's basketball team welcomed the Regina Cougars to the Investors Group Athletic Centre Friday night for the first of two weekend games. The Bisons were able to remain perfect on the season, winning in a nail-biter 70-66.

Fifth-year forward James Wagner propelled the Bisons to their third consecutive conference win. Wagner finished one rebound shy of a double-double and scored 19 points in the winning effort.

"We run a lot of our offence through him because he makes great decisions," said Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp. "I thought he was really efficient and poised tonight."

The 19 points were a season high for Wagner and brought his season average up to 16.6 per game.

Despite the close loss, Regina head coach Steve Burrows said his team will be ready for tomorrow's rematch.

"You can't get too high when you win and can't get too low when you lose in this division," he said. "All of the games are as tight as this was."

The Bisons outscored the Cougars in three of the four quarters by no more than five points.

Wagner scored eight points in the first quarter to give Manitoba a narrow one-point lead after ten minutes. The Bisons knocked down three three-pointers in the second quarter and carried a 30-24 lead heading into the locker room. Manitoba's halftime lead came despite being outrebounded by the Cougars 20-28.

A back and forth third quarter saw the teams exchange baskets to start the second half. Regina would go on to outscore Manitoba by four in the third, cutting the Bisons lead to two heading into the final quarter.

Manitoba pulled away late in the fourth quarter with a free throw from forward Wyatt Tait icing the game with 18 seconds left.

With the win, the Bisons record improved to 3-0 while the Cougars dropped to 3-2.

Manitoba will host Regina for the second and final game of the weekend on Saturday at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.