For the first time all season the UNBC Timberwolves men's basketball team has fallen below the .500 mark.
The T-wolves lost 76-68 Friday in Edmonton to the Alberta Golden Bears, who cruised to their ninth-straight U Sports Canada West conference victory.
Brody Clarke led the Bears' attack with 28 points, also hauling in seven rebounds, while rookie guard Brandon Meiklejohn put up 11 points to hand the T-wolves their fourth straight loss.
Jovan Leamy scored 18 points for UNBC. James Agyeman had an 11-point effort, while Austin Chandler and Anthony Hokanson each shot 10 points for UNBC.
With the win, third-place Alberta (12-3) clinched a playoff spot. UNBC (7-8) dropped to ninth place in the 17-team conference. The same teams meet again tonight in Edmonton. Game time is 6 p.m. Pacific.
Earlier Friday in the women's game, the Alberta Pandas cranked out their 11th straight win, an 86-72 triumph over UNBC. Vanessa Wild finished with 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds and Emma Kary delivered a 16-point, six-rebound effort. T-wolves guard Maria Mongomo shot a game-high 23 points and had 12 rebounds. Madison Landry totalled 22 points and Vasiliki Louka finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pandas (13-2) have also clinched a postseason berth and sit second in the Canada West standings. UNBC (9-6) remained seventh with five games left in the season, including tonight's rematch with the Pandas.
The T-wolves were without starting point guard Emily Holmes, who was away because of a death in the family.
