VANCOUVER – On the strength of a dominant third quarter, the No. 2-ranked UBC Thunderbirds men's basketball team (18-1) picked up an 87-67 win over the Trinity Western Spartans (3-16) on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre.  

Jordan Jensen-Whyte had a game-high 18 points to lead UBC, while Will Ondrik had a double-double, with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Rookie guard Isaiah Familia had a career-high 17 points for the Blue and Gold, while A.J. Holloway had 14 points.

The Spartans and T-Birds were neck and neck over the first 20 minutes, as UBC held a slim 34-32 lead at the break. Familia shot 4-of-6 from the field in the half, leading the 'Birds with 14 points.



The T-Birds earned the win largely without their leading scorer Conor Morgan, who left the game early in the first quarter with a leg injury. Morgan entered the game averaging a U Sports-leading 24.3 point per game.

The Spartans were led by Josiah Allison, who had 17 points, while Pogos Trunyan had 14 points and five rebounds.

UBC, who entered the game shooting a conference-best 48.7 per cent from the field, was held to 42.9 per cent (27-of-63), while the Spartans shot 39.7 per cent (25-of-63). The 'Birds also dominated on the glass, out-rebounding Trinity Western 47 to 30.



After a relatively quiet first half that saw them escape with that 34-32 lead, the T-Birds came out and dominated the third quarter. UBC outscored the Spartans 26-9 in the frame, breaking open the contest with 19-point lead through 30 minutes. Outworking the Spartans to the majority of loose balls - UBC had a 14-7 edge in rebounds in the quarter – the T-Birds built an insurmountable lead.

Both teams had their most efficient quarters of the night in the final frame, with UBC shooting 62.5 per cent from the field and TWU shooting 58.8 per cent. With the result all but determined, the teams traded baskets with UBC outscoring TWU 27-26 over the final 10 minutes.

The T-Birds and Spartans will finish off their respective regular seasons with their rematch tomorrow night, as tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PT) in the Langley Events Centre.