KELOWNA, B.C. — The UBCO Heat men's basketball team (3-9) lost a hard-fought battle against the U SPORTS No. 6-ranked UBC Thunderbirds (8-2), falling 99-89 in a spirited contest at the UBCO Gymnasium on Saturday.
The Heat's best offensive performance of the season included 13 three-pointers, contributing to an overall 50.0 percent shooting from the field.
Isaak Moore led the charge with 26 points, sinking six 3-pointers and grabbing three rebounds.
Jalen Shirley added 21 points, converting 8 of 13 field goals, alongside four rebounds.
Lamine Conde achieved a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while rookie
Anthony Brady chipped in with 12 points, three steals, and five rebounds.
For UBC, Zeru Abera contributed 18 points, hitting 6 of 9 from the field and dishing out 5 assists. Gus Goerzen added 14 points, highlighted by 4 three-pointers on 5 attempts. Edouard Gauthier also scored 14 points, matching Goerzen's three-pointers, and added 2 steals.
In the first quarter, the Heat and the Thunderbirds exchanged leads, with UBC narrowly ahead 19-18 at the buzzer. UBCO shot 38 percent from the field, including three 3-pointers, while their opponents capitalized on points in the paint, scoring 12 from close range. The Heat's defence was highlighted by 13 rebounds, though six turnovers allowed the Thunderbirds to convert these into nine bench points.
The two sister-school rivals continued to trade leads early in the second frame, but turnovers and missed chances allowed the Thunderbirds to seize momentum. UBC made the most of UBCO's four turnovers, converting them into crucial points, including a key 3-pointer by Goerzen at 7:54 that extended their lead. The Thunderbirds' sharp shooting from beyond the arc, with five 3-pointers, and a 6-0 advantage in steals contributed to their 30-21 scoring edge in the quarter. By the half's end, UBC led 49-39.
The Thunderbirds widened their lead in the third by outscoring UBCO 26-15, capitalizing on their superior shooting from beyond the arc. UBC hit five of nine 3-point attempts, leading to their 56 percent field goal shooting in the half. Defensive plays, including five steals, disrupted the Heat's offence, which committed seven turnovers and shot 33 percent from the field. The Thunderbirds ended the half with a strong 75-54 advantage.
UBCO mounted a valiant fourth-half offensive, outshooting the Thunderbirds with 13 field goals on 19 attempts, including six 3-pointers. Despite committing 11 personal fouls, the home team capitalized on turnovers, converting four Thunderbirds' errors into 11 points. UBCO's efforts closed the gap, but the Thunderbirds held their lead by making 14 of 16 free throws.
The result closes out the first term of games for the Heat who will return to action on the road against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Friday, Janaury 9, 2026. The weekend doubleheader against their Interior B.C. rivals will determine the winner of the 2025-26 men's Presidents' Cup trophy with TRU holding a narrow 3-2 advantage in the season series with UBCO.
Game time in Kamloops is set for 7:30 p.m. and the fans can watch the game live on CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel.
Game Notes:
- Moore's 26 points marked his second 20+ point game this season.
- Shirley surpassed 20 points for the third consecutive game.
- Brady set a new career-high with 12 points.
- Conde recorded the second double-double of his career.
