Box Score KELOWNA, B.C. - Thanks to a big afternoon from Kevin Hamlet, the UBC Okanagan Heat men's basketball team earned their first victory on home court this season as they knocked off the UFV Cascades 91-79 Saturday at The Furance.
Right from the tip, the Heat were looking like a different team as they started the game going 6-for-6 from three giving themselves a 25-6 lead in the first. Hamlet, the fourth-year forward from Scarborough, Ont., led the way as he poured in 14 points in the opening frame to stake the Heat to the lead. However, the second quarter was all Cascades as they battled back and eliminated their deficit, and tied the game up at the half.
The crowd was nervous that another strong start for the Heat would result in another upsetting finish, but Hamlet continued to shine and put the team on his back. He continued to pour it on in the second half, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, including back-to-back three pointers in the third quarter to set a new single-game high for scoring this season by a member of the blue and gold.
In the fourth, the Heat rellied on their defence to close out the game, led by Dallas Hancox of Sylvan Lake, Alta., and BB Chucks-Mady, of Hamilton, who locked down the paint blocking three shots each. Gus Goerzen of Roberts Creek, B.C., showed out as well racking up 18 points and seven rebounds, including an emphatic jam to end the game and put the Cascades away for good.
The Cascades were led by Zubair Seyed of Cambridge, Ont., who connected on 8-for-17 shooting to end the day with 25 points off the bench. The ever-impactful Vick Toor of Kent, WA, was defended well by the Heat and finished the game with 13 points and three assists.
With the win, the Heat improve to 2-11 on the season while the Cascades fall to 8-5.
The Heat will be back at it tomorrow at 12 p.m. as they will rematch against the Cascades as they go for the weekend sweep. Tickets will go on sale at the door 30 minutes before the tip.
