VANCOUVER - The No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds kicked off the season with two road wins over rival Trinity Western, and they will look to continue the hot start at their home opener this weekend when they host the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.
Both games will be streamed with live statistics at
CanadaWest.tv. Friday's game will also be broadcast live on CiTR 101.9 FM.
GAME TIMES
Fri., Nov. 9 - Thompson Rivers at No. 2 UBC (8 p.m. at War Memorial Gym)
Sat., Nov. 10 - Thompson Rivers at No. 2 UBC (7 p.m. at War Memorial Gym)
No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds (2-0)
Last Week: W 91-84, W 77-68 at Trinity Western
Despite rolling with two rookie point guards and only two returning starters from last season, the league certainly recognized the talent
Kevin Hanson has stockpiled on his team, giving the 'Birds the preseason No. 2 ranking.
That talent came through in week one, earning UBC two tough road wins over their top rival. Fifth years
Doug Plumb and
O'Brian Wallace combined for well over half of UBC's points in game one, led by Wallace's 32, and in game two it was those rookies at the point,
Jordan Jensen-Whyte and
Isaiah Solomon, combining for 28 points to lead the 'Birds to victory.
After Wallace and Plumb dominated the ball in game one with 33 field goal attempts, they put up just 13 shots combined in game two. That's probably the way Hanson prefers it though, as the 'Birds have traditionally been a very balanced team offensively. Their field goal percentage went way up in game two, from 43 to 52 per cent, helping UBC overcome a -10 turnover margin in the contest.
The 'Birds also crushed TWU on the boards in game two, holding a 44-24 rebounding edge. Plumb led the way with 11 but it was truly a team effort, with nine T-Birds grabbing at least three boards to limit second chances for the Spartans. That sort of rebound-by-committee effort will be important going forward for the 'Birds, who have many versatile athletes but no dominant traditional low-post big men.
Thompson Rivers WolfPack (1-1)
Last Week: L 69-67, W 78-63 vs UNBC
The WolfPack lost two of their top scorers from last season and seemed to have trouble making up for that lost production in the opener, as they lost to UNBC in its first ever CIS regular season game. Will Ondrik scored 14 to lead the Pack, who shot just 36 per cent from the field.
They got it together in game two though, improving their field goal shooting to over 50 per cent, and they got big performances from Brent Rouault and former UBC T-Bird Akeem Pierre. Rouault led the team with 25 points and Pierre chipped in 15 and nine rebounds off the bench.
TRU also got a strong showing from sophomore big man Blaz Bozinovic. The 6'11" post pulled down an average of 14 rebounds through week one and scored 10 points each night for two double-doubles. His twin brother Ivan also added nine points and eight boards off the bench in game one but was inactive for game two.
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