ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The University of the Fraser Valley men's basketball team delayed UBC Thunderbirds head coach Kevin Hanson's ascent to the top of the Canada West coaching wins list, toppling the T-Birds 84-82 on Saturday evening.
Hanson, by virtue of
UBC's 80-63 win over the Cascades on Friday, had moved into a tie with Alberta Golden Bears legend Don Horwood with 313 career regular-season victories, and he was poised to take sole possession of the mark in Saturday's rematch.
The Cascades, though, had other ideas.
Vick Toor scored a game-high 19 points,
Daniel Adediran had a huge double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and UFV (4-6) limited the T-Birds (9-3) to 40.5 per cent shooting from the field en route to victory.
"We've been in a lot of basketball games and come out on the wrong side of a few we wish we could have back," Cascades head coach
Adam Friesen noted. "We're hoping this builds momentum for us over the final half of the season.
"We did it together. Definitely a team effort, whether it be the offensive side or the rebounds. The fact that we won the rebounding battle both nights is something that's quite frankly a little bit surprising. But the guys were challenged to show up and compete, and they answered that challenge."
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The U SPORTS No. 10-ranked Thunderbirds were the sharper team in the early going, building a 17-9 lead after Jonah Morrison sunk a jumper in the paint. The visitors stretched the lead to 13 points (29-16) early in the second quarter, but the Cascades answered with an 18-7 surge, highlighted by a pair of
Jaskarn Bajwa triples, and were within 42-39 at the break.
Adediran ignited the UFV squad in the third quarter, reeling off seven straight points early in the frame – a dunk, a jumper, and a triple – as the hosts led by as many as five. But UBC hung tough, and it was 61-61 heading to the fourth.
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Sukhjot Bains trey with 2:43 left put the Cascades up 78-74, but UBC's Zack Moore responded with a triple of his own on the next possession. UFV nursed a slender lead down the stretch, and were up 83-81 after Toor made one of two at the free throw line with 15 seconds remaining. UFV had a foul to give, and Bains tried to give it as UBC's Jadon Cohee began his drive to the hoop, but the officials granted Cohee continuance and two free throws. He made one of two, as did Bains at the other end of the floor to set up a tense final possession.
UBC's Manroop Clair got loose for a three-point attempt that clanged off the rim, Moore tracked down the rebound and launched a fadeaway that missed, Grant Shephard's tip bounced out, and the Cascades finally tipped the ball out of harm's way as time expired.
Parm Bains chipped in with 15 points and six assists for the Cascades, and Bajwa had a perfect shooting night, going 4-for-4 from the field (including a trio of treys) for 11 points.
Matt Cooley added eight points and seven boards, as UFV earned a 45-37 edge in the rebounding department.
Five UBC players scored in double figures: Clair (17), Moore (14), Taylor Browne (14), Cohee (13) and Shephard (12).
"Vick and Daniel were huge throughout, and Jazz (Bajwa) made massive shots for us as well," said Friesen, reflecting on the play of his team's supporting cast. "I think UBC challenged the rest of our team outside of Sukhjot and Parm to step up and be playmakers and beat them. The guys recognized what the challenge was and bounced back terrifically tonight. There were plays being made all over the court by a number of guys."
The Cascades hit the road next weekend to face the UNBC Timberwolves, while the Thunderbirds host the Trinity Western Spartans.
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