CALGARY, Alta. – The UBC Thunderbirds wrapped up a strong 2025-26 season on Saturday with an 83-75 loss to the Laval Rouge et Or in the consolation semifinal round of the U SPORTS Final 8 at Jack Simpson Gym.
 
With a remade roster and coaching staff, the T-Birds were nationally ranked for the entire season, before qualifying for the national championships for a second straight year, following a conference finals appearance.
 
While the Final 8 in Calgary did not go according to plan, the 'Birds battled to the end against OUA Champion TMU on Friday before nearly pulling off a massive second-half comeback against RSEQ Champion Laval on Saturday, something the team had done several times this season.
 
Nylan Roberts was named Nike Player of the Game for UBC after finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, leading the 'Birds in all three categories. Zeru Abera added 11 points, while Holt Tomie contributed 12 points and five assists.
 

 
Laval established control early, jumping out to a 19-15 lead after the opening quarter before extending the margin before the half. The Rouge et Or outscored UBC 23-12 in the second stanza to take a commanding 42-27 lead into halftime.
 
Ever resilient, the T-Birds showed they had plenty of fight left in them after the break. Roberts was the catalyst, sparking the Thunderbirds with aggressive play on both ends, as the 'Birds won the frame 23-21 to start turning the tide.
 
The blue and gold battled even harder in the fourth, bringing the deficit down to six with two minutes remaining in the game, but could not pull their Quebec opponents any closer. UBC outscored Laval 25-20 in the fourth quarter, but the Rouge et Or sealed the win by making their free throws down the stretch.


 
This was the final game in a Thunderbirds uniform for many major contributors to the program; players who persevered through a lost COVID season, sat out a year to transfer and don the blue and gold, and sacrificed in so many subtle ways to set and maintain the high standard of being a UBC athlete.

Thank you to Toni Maric, Tobi Akinkunmi, Nikola Guzina, Gus Goerzen, Holt Tomie, and Juan Navarro for everything you've given to the Thunderbirds.

Once a T-Bird, always a T-Bird.