The UBC Thunderbirds led from nearly wire to wire in an 84-69 win over the Regina Cougars on Saturday night in Canada West men's basketball action at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

The win improves UBC's record to 12-6 as the Thunderbirds win their third consecutive game and pull into a three-way tie with Alberta and Calgary for third place in the Pioneer Division standings – and that could become a four-way tie later on Saturday night if Winnipeg can defeat Trinity Western for the second straight night.

Second-year swingman Conor Morgan had a season-high 30 points for UBC, going 11-for-19 from the field and also pulling down 12 rebounds for a double-double. Tommy Nixon and Kedar Wright both had 13 for UBC, while Tonner Jackson had 11 points and eight rebounds and Jordan Jensen-Whyte finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.

The Cougars were led by 25 points from second-year guard Brandon Tull (pictured), who was 12-for-18 from the field. Jonathan Tull added 11 points and tied Jeremy Zver for the team lead in seven rebounds, while Travis Sylvestre added 10 points.

The loss drops Regina's record to 7-11 on the season as they remain two wins back of Manitoba (9-9) for the final postseason berth in the Pioneer Division with two games left on the conference schedule.

The Cougars took their only lead of the game in the opening minutes after baskets by Will Tallman and Sylvestre, but UBC quickly went on an 8-0 run which included two David Wagner layups from in tight to go up by 10 with three minutes to go in the first. The Thunderbirds opened up another double-digit lead early in the second quarter as Morgan and Tonner Jackson combined for 10 points in the opening 2:30 of the period, and the visitors took a 12-point lead into the break.

Back-to-back layups by Tallman and Sylvestre brought the Cougars to within five with four minutes left in the third, but UBC called a timeout and quickly responded with a three-pointer by Kedar Wright and another Morgan layup to get the lead back up to 10. UBC led by at least 11 throughout the entire fourth quarter, cruising to its 12th Canada West win of the season.