The University of British Columbia Athletics

Vancouver, BC - A night after a disappointing effort, the UBC Thunderbirds men's basketball team rebounded with a 100-94 win over the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks Friday evening at War Memorial Gymnasium in the Thunderbirds pre-season tournament.
 
It was a big night for UBC's David Wagner and Tommy Nixon, as both players led the Thunderbirds in rebounding, contributing 8 rebounds apiece. Wagner led UBC in scoring, with 22 points, and Nixon contributed with 19 points. Jordan Jensen-Whyte also scored 18 for the 'Birds, while both Andrew McGuinness and Bryelle Kamen each had 12 points apiece.
 
Wilfrid Laurier's Will Coulthard led the game in scoring with 24 points, while Max Allin led the game in rebounding with 9 boards. Jamar Forde, James Agyeman, and Jack Simmons also sustained the Golden Hawks' offense, contributing 20, 19, and 18 points, respectively. 
 
The game began with a tight, fast-paced first quarter. As the lead shifted back and forth between the Thunderbirds and the Golden Hawks, the rhythm of the game rapidly picked-up, resulting in increased turnovers. Luckily, UBC's persistent rebounding paid-off and the Thunderbirds only trailed the Golden Hawks by a point at the end of the quarter.
 
In the second, UBC and WLU continued to fight for the lead. Effective shooting by Andrew McGuinness and David Wagner, in conjunction with strategic perimeter passing, allowed UBC to advance offensively; whereas, WLU relied on breakaways and back-door cuts to keep their offense moving. The Thunderbirds' shooting contributed to UBC going into the half with a 52-38 lead.
 
After the half, WLU came out electrified and outscored the Thunderbirds 13-1 in the first three minutes of the third quarter. However, with increased ball awareness, UBC regained their footing and were quickly back in the game. Tommy Nixon really came alive in the third quarter, utilizing quick reflexes to repeatedly steal the ball before breaking away down the court. Alongside Jensen-Whyte and Wagner, Nixon led the Thunderbirds away from the Golden Hawks to finish the quarter ahead, 80-72.
 
The fourth quarter dynamic was rigorous, with both teams seemingly determined to come out on top. With tactful defense and perseverance, UBC pulled-through to finish the game ahead by six, 100-94.
 
Saturday night, the 'Birds will close their weekend tournament with a 7:00 pm game against Concordia University (Montreal, Quebec).