UBC Okanagan 43 #3 UBC 77
Heat-Thunderbirds Stats
by Lee Dorner, UBC Sports Info Assistant
VANCOUVER - A relentless defensive effort from the CIS #3 UBC Thunderbirds earned them a big win and an impressive milestone for head coach Kevin Hanson, who picked up his 300th win as coach of the 'Birds with a 77-43 victory over the UBC Okanagan Heat on Friday at War Memorial Gym.
Kamar Burke had another double-double, with 13 points and 10 boards for UBC. Nathan Yu led the team with 17 points, and Tommy Nixon chipped in 10.
The Heat's top offensive weapon, Yassine Ghomari, was held to seven points on 2-10 shooting. Simon Pelland had 10 points at half time but foul trouble limited his minutes in the second half, and he finished with just 14, though he still led the team in scoring.
UBC improves to 11-2 on the year, while the Heat fall to 2-11. The teams wrap up their series on Saturday at War Memorial Gym. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.
UBC Athletics
#5 Saskatchewan 92 Brandon 70
Bobcats-Huskies Stats
by Nicole Betker, Huskies Sports Information
SASKATOON - A 24-point halftime lead secured a Saskatchewan Huskies 92-70 victory over the visiting Brandon Bobcats on Friday night at the PAC.
Saskatchewan spread the offence around with four players scoring double-digits. Jamelle Barrett led the way with 18 points, followed by Chris Unsworth with 16.
Ali Mounir was the best on the night for the Bobcats tallying a game-high 19 points. Chris Oppong added another 12 for Brandon. Mounir was also the Bobcats’ leader in rebounds with six.
With the win the Huskies move to 10-4 on the season and extend their winning streak to four straight. Brandon drops to 5-10 on the season.
The two teams meet again on Saturday at the PAC. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. and will be webcast on www.canadawest.tv.
Huskies Athletics
Calgary 67 #7 Alberta 66
Golden Bears-Dinos Stats
by Ben Matchett, U of Calgary Sports Information
CALGARY – On the night he passed Andrew Spagrud for the unofficial national career points record, Boris Bakovic may have helped save his team’s season, leading the Calgary Dinos to yet another upset of a top-10 team with a 67-66 nail-biter over their archrivals, the No. 7-ranked Alberta Golden Bears, Friday night in the Jack Simpson Gym.
Needing just 15 points to tie Spagrud, who starred for five years at the University of Saskatchewan, Bakovic put up 24 points to give him 2,191 on his career while hauling in 11 rebounds as the Dinos added the Bears to the list of big-time home wins this year, joining the UBC Thunderbirds and the Saskatchewan Huskies. Calgary improves to 5-10 on the season, while Alberta drops to 10-5.
Coupled with Lethbridge’s win over Manitoba Friday night, the Dinos gained an important game in the standings against the Bisons, whom they meet next weekend in Winnipeg in a series that could very well decide the final playoff position in the East Division.
Baker was easily the best player on the floor for Alberta, scoring 24 while hauling in 13 rebounds. He was matched point-for-point by Daniel Ferguson, who shot 15 threes and connected on six of them.
Tyler Fidler scored 18 on the night for Calgary. Point guard Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson added 12 points for the Dinos, who shot 18-for-27 from the line.
Another classic edition of the Battle of Alberta is in the offing, with the rematch set for Saturday in the Jack Simpson Gym. Tip-off is 8:00 p.m., live on www.CanadaWest.tv.
U of C Athletics
Regina 86 Winnipeg 79
Wesmen-Cougars Stats
With files from U of Regina Sports Information
REGINA – Fourth-year forward Paul Gareau piled up a season-high 31 points as the Regina Cougars scored an 86-79 victory over Winnipeg on Friday night at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.
Gareau was 10-for-12 from the field and 11-for-13 from the line and added 12 rebounds to register a double-double for the Cougars, who improve to 4-10 with the victory.
Connor Burns also scored a double-double for Regina, scoring 15 points and leading all players with 11 rebounds.
Winnipeg (4-11) was led by Dominique Brown, who scored a team-high 17 points. Travis Krahn had 15 points for the Wesmen, while Kelvin Smith scored 14.
Despite the win, the Cougars remain 3.5 games back of a playoff spot as Lethbridge (8-7) blasted Manitoba (8-7) on Friday night in Lethbridge.
Winnipeg and Regina will square off again on Saturday night at the CKHS. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
Cougars Athletics
Lethbridge 103 Manitoba 89
Bisons-Pronghorns Stats
by Cristy Duce, Pronghorns Sports Information
LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Pronghorns ran to a 103-89 win over the Manitoba Bisons on Friday, bringing their records dead even at 8-7 going into Saturday's game.
Local product, Morgan Duce, led all scorers on the night with 22, shooting a blistering 6-10 from three point land and also pulling down five rebounds. Close behind were former Lethbridge College teammate, Dom Coward with 18 points and 16 boards, logging his seventh double-double of the season.
Fourth-year guard Xavier Smith led the Bisons with 20 on the night and fellow guards Stephan Walton and Kurtis Sansregret each chipped in 15. Keith Omoerah collected seven rebounds and Kevin Oliver thieved five steals on the losing side.
With the teams entering the game with similar records and neck-and-neck in the playoff race.
With third spot in the Prairie division now within reach, the ‘Horns will try complete a sweep of the Bisons on Saturday in the 1st Choice Savings Centre at 8:00 pm. The game will be webcast on www.canadawest.tv.
Horns Athletics