VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds' offensive prowess was on full display during a 124-94 victory over the Trinity Western Spartans - just three points shy of UBC's single-game regulation scoring record. The T-Birds improve to 11-3 after the series sweep, while TWU drops to 2-10 on the season.
"We had a difficult time figuring out which style of play would be most successful for us," said UBC head coach Kevin Hanson. "Obviously when you put up that many points good things are happening, but defensively we have to be a lot better. Offensively they're a very gifted team and their record is not an indication of how good they are, [Ja'Qualyn] Gilbreath is one of the toughest and top players in the country because he can score in so many different ways, so he's an added dimension. Overall I'm just glad we picked up the win."
Gilbreath led all scorers with 34 points as the dynamic fourth-year Spartan guard demonstrated why he continues to lead all of U SPORTS in scoring.
Jadon Cohee had a team-high 26 points and 11 assists for the T-Birds, Grant Shephard put up 19 points, Grant Audu tallied 15 points, and Manroop Clair totalled 13 points in the home-court victory.
Clair found Audu on the break for an emphatic dunk to widen the early UBC lead to 14-6 in the first quarter, but Gilbreath responded with a steal and a breakaway dunk of his own. Jack Nadelhoffer cut the deficit to two with a three at 16-14 before the 'Birds went on a 10-0 run - capped off with a Taylor Browne triple at 26-14 as UBC ended the quarter up 29-18.
Cohee hit a fading jumper as the shot clock expired early in the second quarter to put the 'Birds up 36-23 and Shephard went to work in the paint to widen the lead to 50-32. TWU chipped away as the third quarter progressed and a Gilbreath dunk made it 51-40, but Cohee connected on three free throws to send the T-Birds into halftime up 54-41.
Shephard opened the second half with his third dunk of the game on an alley-oop from Cohee and Zack Moore drained a three at 66-49. Lincoln Rosebush subbed in for Shephard after the big man took his fourth personal foul, and the second-year forward picked up right where Shephard left off with a hard take to the rim at 83-58. Jack Cruz-Dumont crossed up a Spartans defender and dropped a jumper with time winding down in the third, but Gilbreath banked in a three from the logo at the buzzer to close out the quarter down 96-73.
The T-Birds continued to outpace the Spartans in the final frame and utilized their bench to secure the 124-94 win on home court.
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Next up for the Thunderbirds is a Legends Cup rivalry series home-and-home with the University of Victoria Vikes beginning Thursday, January 16 at War Memorial Gym. The Spartans kick off a home-and-home with the UFV Cascades on Thursday at the Langley Events Centre.
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