WINNIPEG – The UBC Thunderbirds (14-6, 0-1) fell to the UNBC Timberwolves (11-9, 1-0) 86-76 in what was largely a tight, defensive game in the play-in round of the Canada West Playoffs at Investors Group Athletic Centre in Winnipeg, ending the T-Birds' season.

Playing in his final game in a Thunderbirds uniform, James Woods led all scorers with 25 points, also adding five rebounds and three assists. Fareed Shittu poured in 17 points for UBC on just nine shot attempts, adding six boards and a block. On the other side, six different Timberwolves scored in double figures, led by 17 points each from Justin Sunga and Darren Hunter. The pair went a combined 11-11 from the free throw line, including some clutch makes down the stretch to put the game away.

The two teams were feeling each other out throughout in the first quarter, both struggling with their shots and neither able to build any sort of lead. A late three from former T-Wolf Shittu, the only triple from either team in the quarter, gave the T-Birds a 17-14 edge after the first frame.



UNBC took the lead back with 6:30 to go in the second quarter after Dylon Matthews was able to get a tough, spinning layup to fall to make it 22-21 for the T-Wolves. Just over a minute later, Shittu was hacked in the lane before finishing and-one, then Canada West All-Rookie sharpshooter Adam Olsen followed up with a deep three to turn the tables and give the T-Birds a 29-24 lead midway through the quarter. The 'Wolves never let the 'Birds build their lead up though, and managed to swing things back in their favour by hitting four straight free throws to end the first half up 38-35.

Scoring picked up in the second half, with Shittu providing the highlight of the night less than three minutes in. The fourth-year forward cut to the rim in transition, snatched a lob from Arnaud Konan out of the air and threw down a thunderous alley-oop.

However, rather than firing up his team with the highlight dunk, it was the T-Wolves who seemed galvanized and immediately found their offensive game. UNBC made three consecutive threes as part of a 13-2 run to go up 53-40 with 4:30 remaining in the frame. Woods poured in six points for UBC in the final 90 seconds of the quarter to cut the deficit down to single digits, but the T-Wolves still led 58-50 heading into the game's final 10 minutes.



Woods kept it going to start the fourth, knocking down a jumper and setting up a Shittu layup to bring the 'Birds within four; but again, UNBC bounced back. A series of T-Birds turnovers and more sharpshooting from the 'Wolves saw them go on a 12-2 run to go up 70-56 midway through the fourth.

With three minutes remaining Olsen hit his second three of the game and then followed it up with a quick and-one to bring the T-Birds back within six, down 72-66. After the UBC forced consecutive turnovers, Shittu finished a layup to make it a four point deficit before scoring off of a well-designed inbounds play soon after to cut the T-Wolves advantage to just 72-70.

With a minute to go, Hunter drilled a clutch, pull-up jumper for UNBC to make it 74-70. Woods then tried a step-back three but found the front rim before disaster struck for the 'Birds, as they lost Spencer Ledoux in transition and gave up an uncontested layup to make it 76-70. UBC never got closer as they were soon forced to foul, and the T-Wolves knocked down their free throws, to end the game at 86-76.

The defeat marks the first time that the Thunderbirds have failed to advance past the first round of the Canada West playoffs since 2017.