LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. - Hafith Moallin's unwavering determination in the final seconds propelled the UBC Okanagan Heat men's basketball team to a thrilling 77-76 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Friday evening.
In a pivotal moment, with just 1.8 seconds left on the clock, Hafith Moallin, from Mississauga Ont. beat a double-team to get the game winning shot off. Executing a swift play, he netted a crucial short jumper. This last-second led the Heat to their first win of the season.
Moallin became UBCO's all-time leader in steals last weekend and grabbed four more in Friday's match bringing his total to 139 in his career. He would score a team-high 15 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists.
Despite still facing the challenge of an injured roster, the Heat entered tonight's basketball with grit. They opened the scoring early en route to a 31-point first quarter, their highest-scoring frame this season.
Returning from injury,
Elan Kimpton-Cuellar played his first minutes of the season. The fourth-year from Roberts Creek, B.C. chipped in 10 points off 67 percent shooting from the floor.
Joining Moallin and Kimpton-Cuellar as double-digit scorers for the Heat were
Leon Schenker (Vernon, B.C.),
Jalen Shirley (Brampton, Ont.), and
David Usuomon (Brampton, Ont.).
Jas Dhudwal (Surrey, B.C.) led UBCO with 12 rebounds.
TOP PERFORMERS
Hafith Moallin - UBCO
Hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, Hafith Moallin played a pivotal role for the Heat tonight, coming up clutch down the stretch. The guard finished the game with 15 points on 54 percent shooting, securing six rebounds, dishing out six assists and adding four steals.
Kymani Pollard - Lethbridge
The third-year guard from Gardena, California, was a strong player on the court for the Pronghorns tonight, finishing the game with 19 points on 8-of-19 shooting. He made a team-most three trey's and added three steals in the loss.
WHERE THEY SIT
With their first win of the season in the books, the Heat improve to a 1-2 record, while the Pronghorns suffer their third consecutive defeat, putting them at 0-3.
UP NEXT
The Heat and the Lethbridge Pronghorns are set to face off once again, with the game tipping off at 6 p.m. tomorrow evening, Saturday, November 11th, in Lethbridge. Catch the live action on CanadaWest.tv.
