The UNBC Timberwolves got out to a hot start, but the gritty UBC-Okanagan Heat just wouldn’t go away, eventually coming back to win 84-74 in U SPORTS Canada West men’s basketball action Saturday in Kelowna.
In the first quarter, the Timberwolves came out assertive, using a diverse attack to break down the Heat defense. The first five T-wolves buckets of the game were scored by five different players, as UNBC opened up an early advantage. Kevin Hamlet, the reigning Canada West player of the week, responded for the Heat, getting to the hoop with his combination of size and strength to keep the home team in it. After ten minutes, the Timberwolves held a 21-12 lead, holding UBC-O to 6-for-19 shooting in the frame.
The Heat picked up the defensive intensity in the second quarter, as the Timberwolves struggled to convert on some quality looks early in the frame. Hafith Moallin was happy to take advantage, driving to the paint for some tough finishes, and the deficit was quickly cut to three points. UNBC’s shooting woes continued for much of the quarter, as they failed to make a field goal through the first five minutes. Eventually, Tyrell Laing broke the slump with a three-pointer, but the T-wolves found themselves clinging to a one-possession lead, up 32-30 at the half.
In the third quarter, the physicality ramped up, as Laing was struggling to get to his spots against a handsy perimeter combo of Moallin and Jalen Shirley. The officials said play on, which seemed to fire up the Heat and their fans and the home team led 48-44 at the midway mark of the frame. The Timberwolves would find their stroke after falling behind by 11, using a late push to cut the deficit to 55-52 heading into the fourth.
The final quarter belonged to the Heat. The frustrated Timberwolves struggled to gain much separation on the offensive end against the length and physicality of UBC-O, while the home team made tough shot after tough shot at the other end, scoring 10 straight points to take an 82-69 lead that put the game out of reach.
Laing was tremendous, scoring 27 points to lead UNBC, adding three rebounds and three assists, while Fareed Shittu finished with 14 points and eight boards. Payton Tirrell had nine points, five rebounds, and four assists off the bench.
Hamlet led UBCO with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Gus Goerzen added 16 points and eight rebounds. Moallin chipped in with 15 points for the Heat, on six-for-six shooting from the field.
The Heat (3-13) reman seventh in the West Division, while the T-wolves (5-11) rank fifth in the West. UNBC won the season series 2-1.
UNBC has two games left in the season, both at the Northern Sport Centre and both are Saturday matinees. They host Trinity Western next Saturday at 3 p.m. and then take on Victoria on Feb. 26, also a 3 p.m. start.
The UNBC women, who were are idle this weekend, have five games left, starting with a road game next Thursday at UBC. The T-wolves final four games are all at home, including a date with Trinity Western next Saturday (1 p.m.), a two-game set on Wednesday, Feb. 23 and Thursday, Feb. 24 against Fraser Valley, both 6 p.m. starts), and a Saturday, Feb. 26 (1 p.m.) game against Victoria.
All 17 teams in the men’s and women’s leagues make the playoffs this year. The tournament-style playoffs will be hosted March 2-5 in Calgary (women) and Lethbridge (men). The lower-seeded teams, 10-17 play in the first round, the 4-9 seeds start in the second round and the three divisional regular season champions each will get a bye to the quarterfinals.
- with files from The Citizen
