VANCOUVER - All five UBC starters scored in double digits as the Thunderbirds earned a 97-85 victory over the Winnipeg Wesmen at the Courtside festival inside War Memorial Gym. Winners of four straight, the T-Birds improved to 15-4 with one game remaining in the Canada West regular season while Winnipeg falls to 10-9.
 
"The players really enjoyed playing in front of these fans, it's what home court advantage should be like," said UBC head coach Kevin Hanson on the raucous Courtside crowd. "We're very appreciative of all the time put into promoting this game and hopefully people continue to come out with this much energy. There was a 15-3 run against us to end the game, so that's something we need to focus on and do a better job with tomorrow."


 
Second-year forward Brian Wallack posted a career-high double-double for the 'Birds, putting up 12 points and 10 boards in his third night as a starter.
 
"I thought Brian had a tremendous game for us - probably the best he's had as a Thunderbird," said Hanson. "We put him in for his toughness and rebounding, so it's a bonus when he's getting those points in the paint. It's nice to see someone reap the benefits of moving up the ranks and getting the most out of his opportunity."


 
Jadon Cohee racked up 25 points, Grant Shephard added 19 points with six rebounds, Manroop Clair had 16 points with four assists, and Grant Audu totalled 12 points and three steals.
 
Narcisse Ambanza scored 28 points with 8 rebounds and five assists for the Wesmen, while DJ Dixon added nine points and seven boards. Will Sesay grabbed 11 rebounds for Winnipeg, but his team gave up 18 turnovers in the loss.

?? MBB | After the 1st, @ubctbirds takes the lead 28-16 over @Wesmenathletics here at Courtside. #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/g3HEw6M3P5

— UBC Thunderbirds / @UBCTBirds (@ubctbirds) February 8, 2020

 
Audu took the Shephard tip straight to the rim for the opening bucket and banked home a triple on the next possession. Shephard then finished a left-handed slam and Cohee went coast-to-coast to extend the lead to 19-8, before Zack Moore hit a corner three to make it 22-10 'Birds. Adam Benrabah scored a turnaround hook shot for the Wesmen, but Cohee hit two free throws to close the quarter with 13 points and a 28-16 lead.


 
Ambanza went off in the second quarter for Winnipeg, hitting from beyond the arc early, but the 'Birds continued to push the pace as another Cohee three put UBC up 38-22. Ambanza dropped Lincoln Rosebush before pulling up for another three and finished the quarter with 15 points - but his Wesmen trailed 48-35 at halftime.

?? MBB | At halftime, @ubctbirds has a 48-35 lead over @Wesmenathletics here at a loud War Memorial Gym for the 4th annual Courtside festival. #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/AmXGA37TOS

— UBC Thunderbirds / @UBCTBirds (@ubctbirds) February 8, 2020

 
Dixon started the third quarter with a three to cut the Wesmen deficit to ten, but the T-Birds defence locked down and Clair hit his second three of the frame for a 63-46 lead. Clair's third three sent War Memorial Gym into a frenzy as it marked UBC's ninth triple of the game and signified free pizza for the fans. Shephard got up for a two-handed flush to punctuate another strong quarter for the 'Birds who went into the fourth up 76-61.


 
Audu drained his second three of the game early in the fourth to put all five UBC starters in double digits for scoring, but Abanza hit from downtown before checking out with under two minutes left to play as the T-Birds closed it out - 97-85.
 
The two Canada West teams will rematch Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PT to conclude their regular season schedule and finalize their playoff positioning on Senior Night at War Memorial Gym.