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University of British Columbia Okanagan

Shirely drives vs T-Birds
Will Thompson
97
Winner UBC Thunderbirds (M) UBC 0
77
UBCO Heat (M) BCO 0
Winner
UBC Thunderbirds (M) UBC
0
97
Final
77
UBCO Heat (M) BCO
0
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UBC Thunderbirds (M) UBC 24 25 17 31 97
UBCO Heat (M) BCO 13 17 25 22 77

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Natalie Tsang

Men's Basketball third-quarter surge not enough to push past ‘Birds

Heat staged an exciting third-quarter rally, narrowing the 19-point deficit to nine, despite UBC's 97-77 victory

KELOWNA, B.C. - Despite a courageous effort, the UBC Okanagan Heat men's basketball team faced a formidable challenge against their sister school, the UBC Thunderbirds, on Friday night in the UBCO Gymnasium. The game drew the season's largest crowd, with fans providing their unwavering support throughout the intense matchup.

The electric vibes in the stands highlighted the unmistakable Heat spirit, as the crowd eagerly anticipated a third-quarter surge from the home team. The Heat launched a formidable comeback in the second half, executing powerful plays and deploying an intense defensive effort that disrupted the Thunderbirds' offense.The surge, led by Hafith Moallin's (Mississauga, Ont.) ten-point third quarter, not only closed the gap but also added energy into the offensive momentum.
In the last 17 seconds of the frame, Jalen Shirley (Brampton, Ont.) drained a three-pointer to cut the deficit to just 11 points. 
  David Usuomon's (Brampton, Ont.) powerful dunk early in the fourth quarter further ignited the crowd, bringing the Heat within nine points and showcasing a promising push to finish off the gap after being down by 19 at the half.
  Despite the Thunderbirds securing a 97-77 win, the Heat's compelling performance in the third quarter kept them in the game, outscoring UBC 25-17 during that period.

Although he did not see the court, Gus Goerzen (Roberts Creek, B.C.) return to the gym he called home for three season. Goerzen, a transfer to UBC from UBCO, scored 605 points for the Heat over 60 career-games and was a nominee for UBCO Male Athlete of the Year last year, as well as men's basketball's team MVP in the 2021-22 season.

TOP PERFORMERS 

Jalen Shirley – UBCO Heat

The third-year guard from Brampton, Ont., led the charge in scoring tonight, putting up an impressive 21 points with a flawless 6-for-6 charity stripe performance. The consistent Shirley has scored 10+ points in 14 of 15 games this season.

Brian Wallack – UBC Thunderbirds

The Surrey, B.C. native and TikTok sensation dominated the court for the 'Birds tonight, delivering his 9th double-double performance this season scoring 23 points with 11 rebounds while hitting all six of his attempts from the foul line.

WHERE THEY SIT

The Canada West season standings for the Heat slip to 4-11, while UBC clinches another victory, elevating their record to 12-5 for the year.

UP NEXT
The two sister schools are set to face off once more in a rematch tomorrow. UBCO will be shooting for the split of the weekend series on Saturday, January 27, at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
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