PHOENIX – The UBC Thunderbirds men's basketball team split its first two exhibition games at the Phoenix College Holiday Basketball Classic, beating Future College Prep 86-71 Wednesday and falling 75-73 to the host Bears Thursday.
 
On Wednesday, Jordan Jensen-Whyte scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists – all team highs – to lead the Thunderbirds, who had five players in double digits.
 
Conor Morgan also had nine rebounds to go with his 13 points. Phil Jalalpoor also posted 13 points, followed by Luka Zaharijevic (12) and Isaiah Familia (10).
 
Future College led 24-23 but UBC closed out the first half on a 27-8 run to take control of the game.
 
The Thunderbirds made 30 of their 61 field goal attempts (49.2 per cent) in the game, including 10 of 22 from behind the arc.
 
Against the host team Thursday night, UBC fell by two points after Avonte Nelms got a steal and converted a layup with 0.8 seconds left, capping off a game-ending 6-0 run. The Thunderbirds went on a 20-5 surge to take a 73-69 lead with 1:55 to go.
 
Morgan scored 23 to lead the blue and gold, while Taylor Browne and Will Ondrik had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Morgan also had nine rebounds.
 
UBC shot 24-for-54 (44.4 per cent) from the field.
 
The team wraps up the tournament Friday, against Cochise College of Douglas, Ariz. The tip off is scheduled for 12 noon PT / 1 p.m. MT.