Charles Barton made his last home basketball game count on the court at the Northern Sport Centre Saturday night.
The fifth-year forward, who will graduate from UNBC this spring, recorded a double-double - 15 points and 16 rebounds off the glass - in the Timberwolves 67-61 loss to the top-ranked University of Fraser Valley Cascades in CIS Canada West action.
"I really went out with a bang," he said following the loss. "I'm definitely happy it ended like that."
It was UNBC's eighth-straight loss, having lost to the Abbotsford-based squad 87-62 Friday night and fall to 4-16 and eighth place in the Pacific Division of CIS Canada West.
The No. 7-ranked Cascades extended their winning streak to 12 and improved to 15-5 to sit in second place in the Pacific Division, right behind the University of Victoria.
Saturday's game was a better effort than Friday's for the Twolves, as they kept pace with Cascades right up to the final 90 seconds of the game.
Leading 63-61, UFV guard Kevin Parchment made both of his shots from the free-throw line to take a narrow four-point lead. UNBC couldn't score on their next possession and the Cascades sunk another field goal with 14.8 seconds left to seal the win.
UNBC held a 33-31 edge at half-time.
"We played hard right until the very end," said UNBC head coach Todd Jordan. "We just didn't make enough plays down the stretch, but I'm pretty happy with the effort."
Daniel Stark, who will also graduate from UNBC this spring, had another solid night with 13 points and six rebounds.
Parchment finished with night with 17 points for UFV, as did Jasper Moedt with 17 points and nine rebounds.
UNBC shot 37.9 per cent from the floor (compared to 39.3 per cent by UFV) and drained 11 of their 24 attempts from the three-point range.
Friday night in their 87-62 loss to the Cascades, UNBC trailed 48-28 at half-time, thanks to UFV shooting over 50 per cent from the three-point range.
Their zone defence in the second half forced the Twolves to shoot from the outside. Billy Cheng sunk two-straight threes from opposite baselines and Jibreel Stevens followed with a tray of his own. UNBC couldn't overcome the half-time deficit.
Franck Olivier Kouagnia was dominant underneath the basket, earning a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Stark added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Cheng chipped in 13 points.
UNBC's women suffered two more losses on the weekend, 79-63 Friday and 88-51 Saturday to the visiting Cascades.
The Twolves remain in fifth place in the Pacific Division at 5-15 and 10 points. UFV improved to 15-5 for a two-way tie with UBC for first place in the Pacific Division.
Twolves only trailed by six points after the first quarter, but the Cascades shooting from the outside was the difference as Aiesha Luyken drained six shots from three-point range in the second quarter. UFV led by as many as 20 points, but a 7-0 run by UNBC kept it close to trail 40-27.
Turnovers plagued the Twolves in the third quarter as UFV outscored the Prince George side 21-4.
Fifth-year UNBC forward Emily Kaehn notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Mercedes Van Koughnett collected 19 points and nine rebounds.
Van Koughnett put up a double-double Friday night, grabbing 10 boards and 12 points.
Jen Bruce, in her first game back after suffering a concussion in practice Jan. 3, added 14 points while Kaehn tallied 14.
Both UNBC squads travel to Calgary to battle the Mount Royal University Cougars this weekend to wrap up their regular season.
On the women's side, the Cougars are last in the Pacific Division with a record of 2-18.
On the men's side, the Cougars are 8-12 with 16 points and sixth place, eight points ahead of the Timberwolves.
