The UBC Thunderbirds came out guns blazing, and they took down the previously undefeated Calgary Dinos 93-89 to notch their biggest win of the season, while snapping a three-game losing skid. A crowd of nearly 1,500 fans cheered on the 'Birds as UBC celebrated its annual Courtside event and following the final buzzer, UBC head coach
Kevin Hanson, was recognized for earning a career milestone 600th victory in the midst of his 25th season in charge of the decorated program.
Tobi Akinkunmi was everywhere on the court, grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds to go along with 14 points, three steals and three blocks.
Gus Goerzen put up 17 points and seven boards in his first start of the season, while
Brendan Sullivan also poured in 17 points to set a new season-high for the second time in three games.
Nate Petrone led the Dinos in scoring once again with 26 points along with six assists. Noah Wharton nearly double-doubled with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Despite having multiple players out of the lineup, Thunderbirds head coach
Kevin Hanson continued to utilize a deep rotation, giving a couple different players the chance to shine.
Kashie Ugoji certainly made the most of his opportunity in just his second appearance of the season, recording six points, two steals and two blocks while playing some lockdown defence off the bench.
"Kashie, I mean, put him as player of the game for us," said Hanson. "There's a kid that hasn't dressed in two and a half weeks…give him credit for having the confidence to come in and knock in two big threes at crucial times, and the defence he played was outstanding."
One of those clutch threes was a buzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter that put the T-Birds up 34-22. It was an electric opening ten minutes for the home team, who attacked the basket relentlessly. 14 of their first 15 points were in the paint, and the only one that wasn't was a free throw following an Akinkunmi and-one layup.
Goerzen got the 'Birds going from the outside with two three-pointers in the opening frame, while
Karan Aujla got his first bucket of the season off a nifty over-the-shoulder pass from
Jerry Hayes.
Nikola Guzina got UBC going in the second with a steal and breakaway dunk on the other end. The lead grew as large as 15 points before the Dinos responded. The visitors ripped off a 14-1 run that put the score at 43-40 for the 'Birds and made things much more tense.
The Thunderbirds were able to respond, going on a bit of a run of their own. A triple from Sullivan made it 54-46, but the Dinos again punched back and cut the lead to just three points going into halftime.
Calgary briefly took the lead in early in the third, before Goerzen banked in a three to put the 'Birds back in front. The two teams went back and forth throughout the quarter, before buckets from Sullivan and
Fareed Shittu, along with an emphatic Akinkunmi block, put UBC back out in front. Ugoji hit another late triple, and the Thunderbirds entered the final frame up 77-71.
In a night dominated by repeated offensive explosions, the fourth quarter began with a scoreless stretch that lasted over four minutes. The dam finally broke when Petrone hit a three for the Dinos, followed immediately by one on the other end from Akinkunmi.
The lead never grew past seven points, but each time the Dinos made a push, the T-Birds did just enough to stay in front. They closed it out with a 93-89 win, handing Calgary their first loss of the season.
The victory snaps a three-game skid for the 'Birds, who have one more game next Friday against UBC Okanagan on the road before the winter break.
"I thought the maturity of our team today paid off," added Hanson. "We needed to play gritty. This was the best game of the four we've played here at home the last two weeks…we'll have a good week at practice, head in for one more at the sister school, and then head into the break."
The win was momentus for several reasons, important to halt a three-game slide against a top opponent and made that much sweeter for coach Hanson who is the Canada West leader in wins among active coaches with 368 to reach the 600 overall wins milestone.
With the victory the T-Birds improved to 5-3 on the season and the players made sure to sure to celebrate the achievement with the 'Birds longtime bench boss afterwards, as the team gained some important momentum back just ahead of the lengthy holiday break beginning in a couple of weeks.
After playing in Kelowna next week, the Thunderbirds next conference action will be in the new year, hosting Thompson Rivers at home on January 10th.
