PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – In a game that found both teams within just a few possessions of each other for the vast majority of the night, the Thunderbirds (11-2) had the edge and pulled away from the Timberwolves (2-11) in the final minutes.
 
UNBC certainly acquitted themselves well, leading after the first quarter and keeping themselves squarely in the game even when UBC led for the entirety of the second half. The end result, however, was a ninth Canada West win in a row for the Thunderbirds, a streak that jumps up to 10 overall if you also include November's Buchanan Cup triumph over SFU.
 
Six T-Birds scored in double figures, led by Nikola Guzina who had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Edouard Gauthier scored 17 off the bench, while Holt Tomie came close to a triple double with 12 points, nine boards and eight assists.
 
The 'Birds stumbled out of the gate, as while Guzina scored nine points in the opening quarter it was UNBC who led 24-19 at the end of the first, paced by Miller Davies' eight points.


 
Falling behind by as many as seven in the second quarter, consecutive three-pointers from Tobi Akinkunmi and Nylan Roberts keyed a run that eventually gave the T-Birds a one-point lead heading into halftime.
 
UBC then scored the first eight points of the third, jumping out to a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the night. The Timberwolves didn't go down easy though, as they refused to let the 'Birds truly pull away.
 
With their lead cut down to just four points early in the final quarter, the Thunderbirds kept their cool and counter-punched, pushing their advantage back out to 10 with another Roberts triple and keeping the home team at arm's length from there.
 
The T-Birds now have a day off before facing off against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack (10-5) on Saturday night in a game that could have massive ramifications in the Pacific Division playoff picture.
 
UBC will be seeking revenge against the only team that's beaten them so far this season, while the WolfPack will look to shake off an 84-79 home loss to UFV to begin their week. That game begins at 6:00 p.m. (PT) on Canada West TV.