CALGARY, ALB. - The UBC Thunderbirds relied on a balanced attack which included three players recording double-doubles en route to downing the MRU Cougars 82-69 in what was a feisty affair aat Kenyon Court, Friday evening to open the first of a back-to-back weekend series. With the win the T-Birds improved to 3-2 on the season while the setback sees the Cougars sit at 3-2 on the Canada West campaign.

James Woods led the way for the visitors with 19 points, five rebounds and three steals while the total team effort saw Sukhman Sandhu, Triston Mathews and Brian Wallack all record double-doubles in the triumph. Sandhu added 18 points and 13 rebounds, Mathews chipped in with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Wallack stepped up with 14 points and 12 rebounds.



Meanwhile for the hosts it was the Canada West leading scorer Holt Tomie with a game high 24 points and adding nine rebounds, Keivonte Watts contributed 12 points and Sam Barnie with 10 points were the other Cougars to reach double digits

Holt had 19 of the 43 points scored for the Cougars at half. But the T-Birds shifted defensive styles and shut down any opportunities Tomie had. He finished the night with 24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and a block. 

The second quarter saw a technical foul for MRU head coach, Marc Dobell, shifting the momentum away from the Cougars squad. 

After the break UBC drilled down on defence, smothering Tomie, who only scored two points in the third quarter. 



MRU only shot 32 percent as a team tonight while UBC enjoyed a fairly efficient 43 percent shooting from the field, the T-Birds also had success on the inside scoring 36 points in the paint.

The T-Birds and Cougars get back at it Saturday night with a 6:00 p.m. PT tip off. Catch the game in Kenyon Court or live on Canada West TV.