The UNBC Northern Timberwolves are still in the medal hunt.
Friday in Oshawa, Ont., the UNBC men's basketball team defeated the host Durham College Lords 72-67 at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championship tournament. The victory, by way of a comeback, happened one day after the Timberwolves lost their tournament-opener to the Lethbridge College Kodiaks and saw their hopes of a second consecutive national title disappear.
"I've got a really character group," said UNBC head coach Todd Jordan. "I was pretty sure they were going to come out and play with some effort today. They're obviously disappointed about [Thursday] but they're a competitive group of guys. Whether it's practice or a game, when they put their shorts and shoes on they want to compete."
Against Durham, the T-wolves trailed 48-42 in the third quarter but turned the game in their favour with some timely hoops by Dennis Stark and Francis Rowe and some inspired defence by Robert Rodriguez. By the end of the third, the Timberwolves led 52-50 and they were the better team in the fourth. The Lords played most of the last quarter without fifth-year guard and key point-producer Courtney Small, who fouled out with eight minutes left to play.
The key moment in the contest came with about five minutes left on the clock. Stark, a fourth-year post player, put the Timberwolves in front 65-58 with an inside bucket. Right after that scoring play, Durham coach Desmond Rowley was whistled for a technical foul, and UNBC's Inderbir Gill drained one of two free throws. A couple possessions later, Gill scored off a beautiful feed from Rodriguez and the lead was up to 10 points, 68-58.
In the last four minutes, the Lords made one last push and got to within three points of the T-wolves but saw their hopes of victory fade away when guard Saliym Cadogan missed a three-point attempt from the corner with 18 seconds to play. Gill pulled down the rebound and UNBC finished the game out from the free-throw line.
Gill, who had just 13 points in Friday's 81-66 loss to Lethbridge, was back in form against Durham and knocked down a game-high 24 points.
"It takes a lot to shake him," Jordan said. "He had a tough one [Thursday] but he was able to bounce back and lead us again. It's typical of his character."
The Timberwolves also got 15 points from Rowe and 11 from Sam Raphael. Tyler McGarrity, with 19 points, was Durham's offensive star.
This morning, at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT), the T-wolves will play the Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics of Halifax, with a spot in the evening bronze-medal game going to the winner.
In the other bronze-medal qualifier, the NAIT Ooks of Edmonton -- who beat the Humber College Hawks 83-76 on Friday -- will tip off against the Vancouver Island University Mariners.
The Mystics fell 70-65 to the Vanier College Cheetahs in a Friday night semifinal. In the other semi, Lethbridge downed the top-seeded Mariners 82-73.
"To get the bronze, we'll have to win two games," Jordan said. "It becomes as much of a mental battle as a physical battle.
"I feel good about our chances if we're able to get through that morning game."
Vanier and Lethbridge, the championship finalists, were seeded seventh and fifth respectively for the tournament. Vanier College is located in Ville de St. Laurent, Que.
