ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's basketball team suffered a pair of defeats at the hands of the UFV Cascades this weekend, dropping an 80-66 decision on Friday night before losing a narrow 66-58 contest on Saturday night.
In the opening contest on Friday night, the two Pacific division rivals were battling shot for shot early in the game but the host Cascades began to pull away in the second quarter. Trailing by 11 heading into the second half, the Heat were unable to slow down Dario Lopez, who had 28 points after three quarters, as UFV poured on the offence to put the game out of reach.
Heat forward
Lamine Conde of Montreal had his best game of the young season, stepping up with his team's roster limited due to injury. The second-year dropped 19 points while connecting on 7-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-4 three-point attempts.
Leon Schenker of Vernon, B.C., would chip in with nine points and four rebounds off the bench in 17 minutes.
Saturday's contest was a much closer affair that saw UFV leading 33-32 at the half. UFV would use a 6-0 run in the middle of the third-quarter to create some separation but UBCO would push back in the fourth and cut the lead to four with under two minutes to play thanks to a three-pointer from
Jalen Shirley of Brampton, Ont.
However, the Cascades would keep their nerve at the free throw line down the stretch to close out their second win of the weekend.
Three members of the Heat finished in double figures on the night, including
Imoudu Ibrahim of Calgary, who just rejoined the roster after over a year away from the program. The fourth-year forward had a team-high 11 points in just 18 minutes of action while adding five rebounds.
Shirley would pour in 11 points of his own while
Jas Dhudwal of Surrey, B.C., had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The two setbacks leave the Heat with a 1-3 record, good for fifth in the Pacific division standings. Meanwhile UFV moves to 2-2 with the two wins this weekend.
Up next for the Heat will be a weekend doubleheader on home court against the Trinity Western Spartans (0-4). The opening game is set for Friday, November 15 at 7 p.m. and tickets for the game can be purchased at the door.
