CALGARY -- This time, the hole looked too deep.
But, the UNBC Northern Timberwolves found a way to claw out of it and won their first game at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association men's basketball national championship tournament. The top-seeded Timberwolves, down by 16 points at half time, stormed back in the last 20 minutes and beat the eighth-ranked Fanshawe College Falcons of London, Ont., 76-71.
The T-wolves didn't take their first lead until guard Jose Araujo hit a three-pointer with 1:44 left to play. His shot moved UNBC into a 68-67 advantage. After a couple more lead changes, the T-wolves held on for the win.
The Timberwolves have been notoriously slow starters all year.
"That's the story of our season. That's way too many and we don't want it like this anymore," said UNBC's Inderbir Gill, who scored 17 points and was named his team's player of the game.
"We didn't bring our best in the first three quarters and that's what happens."
In the semifinal round, on Friday, the Timberwolves will face either fourth-ranked Sainte-Foy or fifth-ranked Mount Saint Vincent University of Halifax.
The tournament is being played at at SAIT Polytechnic.
See Friday's Citizen for more.
