KELOWNA, B.C. - On Friday at UBCO Gymnasium, the UBCO Heat defeated the UNBC Timberwolves 105-102 in overtime in their home opener, erasing an early first-quarter 12-point deficit.
Isaak Moore scored a career-high 30 points and recorded a team-high four steals. Around him,
Mike Adarkwah-Nti finished with 21 points, going a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line, while
Tarun Saroya added 16 points with three three-pointers and four rebounds.
Wil Zylyk also impressed in his UBCO debut, posting 14 points, seven rebounds, and two steals.
For UNBC, Evgeny Baukin scored 23 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and added four assists. Tony Kibonge finished with 18 points, including five three-pointers, while Chris Ainsley posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Timberwolves had a fourth double-digit scorer in Miller Davies, who added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
UNBC started out the game shooting 44.4 per cent from the field, while UBCO went 4-for-18 with seven turnovers. The Heat found themselves down their largest deficit of the game, 27-15, heading into the second quarter.
The Heat finished the second frame with five steals and 10 points off turnovers. A 10-0 run late in the quarter erased a 39-29 deficit, tying the game as Moore scored on a layup with 46 seconds left. The Timberwolves answered with the final six points, leaving the Heat down 45-39 at halftime.
Zylyk's three-pointer with just under five minutes left turned the third quarter, giving UBCO a 53-51 advantage. Saroya followed with a layup and a three-pointer, and UBCO finished the frame shooting 52.4 per cent from the field while forcing nine UNBC turnovers. Moore's three-pointer with 11 seconds left helped the hosts close the quarter ahead 68-62.
The fourth quarter saw the Heat lead 90-83 with 2:09 left before the Timberwolves retook the lead with an 8-0 run with less than a minute remaining. Late free throws from Adarkwah-Nti and Moore helped the Heat take the lead before Chris Ainsley's three-pointer for the Timberwolves tied the game. A missed jumper from Saroya with mere seconds left led to the extra frame.
Adarkwah-Nti broke the 98-98 tie with a jumper near the halfway point of overtime, while Moore added a layup and two free throws to help UBCO stay in front. UNBC pulled within two late, but Zylyk hit a free throw with one second left, and the Timberwolves' final three-point attempt was unsuccessful, closing out the win for the Heat.
Up next, the Heat travel to Kamloops, B.C., to face the TRU WolfPack on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m., for the next installment of the Presidents' Cup challenge.
Game Notes
- The Heat's 105 points set a program record for most points in a single game
