The UNBC men's basketball team had a banner night in North Vancouver.
As in, provincial championship banner.
The Northern Timberwolves outlasted the Vancouver Island University Mariners in the PACWEST Athletic Association championship game Saturday night at Capilano University. In a contest where every point was hard-earned, the T-wolves prevailed 69-61.
With just over two minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, the Nanaimo-based Mariners pulled into a one-point deficit, 58-57, and the game was up for grabs. A minute later, UNBC's Sam Raphael nailed a three-pointer as the shot clock was winding down and that proved to be a pivotal moment. VIU failed to score on its next possession and Raphael got the ball to teammate Charles Barton, who went hard to the hoop for another bucket and a 63-57 lead. The Timberwolves held on the rest of the way and celebrated the victory.
UNBC guard Francis Rowe was picked as the tournament's most valuable player and Raphael was recognized as an all-star.
The B.C. title qualified the Timberwolves for nationals, March 15-17 in Truro, N.S. This will be UNBC's fourth consecutive appearance in the national championship tournament.
Earlier in the night, the UNBC women's basketball team also claimed B.C. gold with a 62-53 win against the Mariners. The female Timberwolves will compete at nationals March 15-17 in Lethbridge.
The UNBC clubs had never before won provincial titles in the same year. Both are moving up to the Canada West conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport next season.
