KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The UBCO Heat men's basketball team (3-11) narrowly missed out against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack (10-4), ending with an 86-82 loss on Saturday night at the Tournament Capital Centre. The Heat managed to tie the game four times and even led by as much as 10 points, but couldn't fend off the WolfPack's impressive 27-point surge in the third quarter.
Jalen Shirley was unstoppable for the Heat on this night, scoring a remarkable 43 points, hitting 15 of 18 field goals and nailing five 3-pointers.
Lamine Conde made a strong contribution with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Ariel Tsaiger was active on defence, recording three steals and dishing out four assists.
Steve Stinson led TRU with 22 points, shooting 66.7% from the floor and hitting 9 of 10 free throws. Jayden Stephens matched Stinson's 22 points, adding six rebounds and shooting 45% overall.
The game kicked off with UBCO grabbing an early lead through a tip-in by Conde. Despite turnovers and fouls, the Heat kept pace with TRU, highlighted by a Shirley 3-pointer, assisted by
Mike Adarkwah-Nti, tying things up at 14.
The first quarter wrapped up with a back-and-forth exchange, as Conde's layup at 0:36 tied the score once more at 20.
UBCO surged ahead with a 10–0 run midway through the second quarter, starting with another Shirley three, followed by consecutive free throws and a layup from Shirley. The team capitalized on free throws, making seven out of seven, and extended their lead through strong defensive rebounds, allowing only 16 points from the WolfPack. Despite some turnovers, UBCO kept their composure and finished the half leading 44–36.
The Heat managed to maintain a slim lead early in the third quarter, with Conde's fast-break dunk two minutes in giving them a crucial boost. However, despite their efforts, they faced challenges in maintaining momentum. As the quarter progressed, TRU capitalized on their opportunities, overtaking UBCO with a series of successful plays. The Heat struggled to keep up with the scoring pace, and the quarter ended with TRU leading 63–57.
In the final frame, UBCO mounted a strong offensive performance, led by Shirley's impactful scoring, including two critical 3-pointers in the last minute. Despite turnovers, the Heat outscored TRU in the quarter, cutting into the lead with a late rally. However, TRU's consistent free-throw shooting maintained their edge. The game ended with a narrow finish, as UBCO fell short, finishing 86-82 in favor of the WolfPack.
Looking ahead, the Heat will host the Mount Royal Cougars on Friday, Jan. 16, at 5:30 p.m. The matchup will take place on their home court at the UBCO Gymnasium, kicking off a six-game home stand to close the regular season for UBCO.
Game Notes:
- Shirley's 43 points set a new UBCO record, surpassing the previous record of 33 set by Yassine Ghomari in 2012
- Shirley's performance is also the 2nd most points scored in a Canada West game this season, and the 23rd best single-game scoring performance in conference history
- Conde recorded his second double-double in three games and surpassed 20 points for the third time this season
