PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's basketball team had to settle for a weekend split with the UNBC Timberwolves after suffering an 83-72 loss at the Charles Jago Northern Sports Centre on Saturday evening.
After a tightly contested opening half in which the Heat held a narrow 41-40 lead, the Timberwolves used a strong third quarter, outscoring UBCO 25-15, to propel them to the win.
Guards
Jalen Shirley of Brampton, Ont., and
Jeffrey Tezo of Montreal, carried the offensive load for the Heat on the night, combining to take 43 of the Heat's 72 shot attempts.
Shirley would finish the game with 23 points, marking the fourth-time this season he's scored more than 20 points in a contest. He would add four assists and two rebounds to his efforts.
Meanwhile, Tezo added 15 points in his first start in a Heat uniform.
Leon Schenker of Vernon, B.C., would add 12 points off the bench for UBCO.
UNBC was led on the night by Justin Sunga of Burnaby, B.C., as he scored a game-high 25 points while Evgeny Baukin of Moscow, Russia added 24 points.
UBCO struggled to get into a rhythm offensively as the finished the game shooting 36 percent from the floor compared to the Timberwolves who shot 45 percent.
The setback leaves the Heat with a 3-5 record and in a three-way tie for fourth-place in the Canada West Pacific division with Trinity Western and Thompson Rivers. As for the Timberwolves, they pick up their first win of the year, improving to 1-7 on the season.
UBCO will look to bounce back when they close out their first-half schedule at home next weekend. The Heat will open the weekend against the U SPORTS No. 3-ranked UBC Thunderbirds on Friday night, November 29 as they host their first-ever Neon Night. In partnership with UBCO Recreation's Glow with the Flow event, the game will feature a live DJ throughout the night, glowsticks and halftime yoga in the stands.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the UBCO Gymnasium and tickets for the game can be purchased at the door on game day.
