The Matchup

 
The Thunderbirds continue their exhibition season Friday at 8:00pm and Sunday at 3:00pm with games against the Lethbridge Pronghorns at War Memorial Gym.
 
The 'Birds outdueled the 'Horns twice in the 2015-16 regular season, then swept them aside in convincing fashion during the Canada West quarterfinals.


 
The game marks the first action where UBC will face a Canadian team this 2016-17 CIS season. Their previous opponents have been from China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Charlotte and Seattle.
 

Last Action

 
UBC knocked aside the Seattle Mountaineers 87-66 last weekend on the strength of Conor Morgan's aerial assault on the rim, which included this gem:
 

This was even better live! Dunk by @Conormorgan09 #seattlemountaineers #momentumbuilder pic.twitter.com/ypJ9hRLkkU

— Kevin Hanson (@UBCCoachHanson) October 11, 2016

 
This will be Lethbridge's first game of the year against a CIS-caliber opponent as their previous two games have been against college teams.
 

By the Numbers

 
17-4 – UBC's stellar record at War Memorial Gym last season. Regardless of these being exhibition contest, the 'Birds will be looking to send a message that they're a menace on their home hardwood.


 
11.9 – the average points per game scored by UBC senior David Wagner last year. There are a lot of T-Birds looking to step-up and take over some of the scoring load and consistency Wagner brought to the table.
 

Players To Watch

 
Jordan Jensen-Whyte - (#6, F/G) – sometimes overshadowed by the electric antics of Morgan, Jensen-Whyte is the oil in the T-Birds engine. The All-Canadian will be breathing fire this season looking for the elusive national championship missing from his illustrious CIS career.


 
Luka Zaharijevic – (#15, F) – leaner and meaner than last season, "The Bazooka" hopes a stringent off-court exercise routine and diet will lead to more points and rebounds in 2016-17.
 

Quotable

 
"It's still the pre-season and we are really focused on ourselves and trying to get our rookies to where are veterans are," says UBC Head Coach Kevin Hanson. "They are a team that has added some good pieces. It will be a good test for us to evaluate where we're at."