The task at hand was a tall one for UNBC's men's basketball squad on Saturday night.
Win the game and chances are good of locking up the first-ever playoff berth since the team entered the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Canada West conference three seasons ago.
In the Timberwolves' way was the top-ranked University of the Fraser Valley Cascades from Abbotsford with their 15-1 record.
In the end, UNBC came through with a 69-57 victory in front of 900 fans at the Northern Sport Centre to improve to 10-8. The win, combined with Thompson Rivers University's 66-62 victory Saturday over the Mount Royal Cougars, guaranteed a playoff berth in the Explorer Division.
TRU is also tied for second place at 10-8.
"This win is huge for us," said fifth-year guard Jeff Chu, one of three graduating seniors who were honoured for their playing careers at UNBC prior to the game. "I'm really happy for the other guys. "That was our first win against them."
"I couldn't imagine a better way to end my career at home," added graduating senior Devin McMurtry.
The Timberwolves have two more regular season games left against UBC Okanagan in Kelowna this weekend. They won't catch UFV for first place, but they could finish either second or third depending on the success they have.
TRU travels to Abbotsford this weekend to face the Cascades which could also be a determining factor.
Saturday, the back-and-forth contest featured four lead changes in the first quarter as the Cascades held a narrow 31-30 lead after the first half.
In the third quarter, the Timberwolves found their game. Forward Franco Kouagnia netted seven of his 17 points, two of which came from the foul line with a minute to play.
In the fourth quarter, UNBC held the Cascades to only seven points. Holding onto a narrow 62-47 lead with 2:30 left, Rhys Elliott drained a shot from the three-point arc. Kouagnia followed that up by a huge block and McMurtry made a lay-up to give the T-wolves a 10-point cushion.
UNBC's defence came through with two big stops and the Cascades couldn't convert in the final minute of the game.
UNBC was led by fifth-year forwards, six-foot-seven 250-pound Franco Kouagnia (17 points and 12 rebounds) and McMurtry (12 points, 13 rebounds).
Guards Elliott and Billy Cheng also picked up 14 and 10 points respectively.
The Cascades were led by fifth-year forward Kadeem Willis with 19 points and seven rebounds.
On the women's side, the UFV Cascades defeated UNBC 85-51 to improve to 11-7 and lock up third place in the Explorer Division.
The Timberwolves fall to 2-16.
