ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – All win streaks come to an end eventually, and the Thunderbirds (12-3) had that reality hit them on Friday afternoon as they tasted defeat for the first time since November 1 in a tight loss to the Cascades (10-6).
 
While the 'Birds fought until the end, they were unable to overcome some hot shooting from the home team. UFV shot 50% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc, hitting 11 three-pointers including a perfect 5-5 from Matthias Klim off the bench.
 
The T-Birds were paced by 19 points and four assists from Holt Tomie. Nikola Guzina recorded 16 points, three rebounds and three assists while Edouard Gauthier added 14 points, three rebounds and two dimes.


 
The two squads were difficult to separate in the first half, with the largest lead from either team coming when Nylan Roberts drilled a three-pointer to put UBC up by nine midway through the second quarter.
 
That margin lasted for just 10 seconds, however, before Jaylen Lee answered with a triple of his own, and the Cascades closed the half on a run that tied the game when Dario Lopez scored a layup with less than five seconds remaining before halftime.
 
The third quarter was when the home team established the lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game, outscoring UBC 28-16 in the frame. Dilveer Randhawa led the charge with 11 of his game-high 24 points in the quarter.
 
Down by 12 entering the fourth, back-to-back triples from Tomie and Roberts cut the deficit in half in the opening minute. But while the Cascades could never pull away, the Thunderbirds were also unable to get over the hump themselves.


 
The use of some full court pressing in the final couple minutes did provide some success for the T-Birds, as they forced consecutive turnovers followed by buckets on the other end from Gus Goerzen and Tomie to make it 85-83 with just 64 seconds left on the clock.
 
Unfortunately for the visitors, a contested finish inside from Ismael Hernandez put his team back up by four, and the Cascades closed the game out with free throws from there. The 'Birds will aim to exact revenge in the rematch beginning at 6:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday night in Abbotsford.