Vancouver, BC – Dario Lopez scored 26 points and added 14 rebounds, as the UFV Cascades fell 93-88 after two overtime periods to the USPORTS No. 3 ranked UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday in Vancouver.

The loss sees the Cascades record move to 5-9 on the year, while UBC improves to 10-3.

How it happened:
UBC got out to an early five-point lead before the Cascades counter-punched, and an and-one from Lopez made it a one-point game, but the Thunderbirds came right back with another run to make it 19-11, capped by a dunk from Karan Aujla.


The two teams traded buckets for the rest of the quarter, with UBC leading 30-24 at the break. A big bucket inside from Nikola Guzina made it a 10-point lead early in the second, but that's as big as the lead would get for the rest of the night.


UFV found their footing as the second quarter wore on, and the T-Birds were forced to call for time when Vince Velasquez stepped into a three-pointer that tied the game at 34. Jessie and Olsen then responded with triples of their own to put the home team back in front, and the half ended with a score of 48-47 in favour of the 'Birds.


It was the Cascades who came out hot to begin the second half, jumping into the lead with an 11-2 run before Brendan Sullivan scored with a nifty reverse layup to stem the bleeding. The Thunderbirds clawed their way back into things from there, and took a 64-61 lead to end the third after back-to-back buckets at the rim from Guzina.


The pace of the game ground down in the fourth, with the two teams combining for just 13 points through the first six minutes. Shittu then gave his team a 73-67 lead with a layup, but the Cascades refused to give in.


A three from Jake Willemsen and then a UBC turnover and fastbreak layup from Croke tied the game at 75 with less than a minute to play. Both teams had chances for go-ahead buckets from there but couldn't convert, which sent the game to overtime.


From then on the game became a war of attrition, with each team having to manage multiple starters fouling out either late in regulation or in the overtime periods.


The T-Birds pulled ahead briefly in the first overtime when Jessie hit a corner triple to make it 80-76, but a series of free throws pulled the Cascades level at 82. The visitors held the final shot and Lopez put up a contested jumper for the win that missed, meaning another five minutes needed to be played.


Lopez took hit a contested fadeaway jumper early in the second overtime, but Jessie answered right back with yet another clutch three-pointer, followed by one from Sullivan.


Points came at a premium in the final few minutes, and Jessie made perhaps the play of the day with just 22 seconds left on the clock – after Uyi Ologhola recorded a massive block for the Cascades, Jessie snuck up behind Willemsen and stole the ball in the UFV backcourt, turning a go-ahead basket opportunity into the Cascades being forced to intentionally foul.


The Thunderbirds made enough of their free throws and shut the door in the dying seconds defensively, pulling out the win.

Notable:
Dario Lopez played 46 minutes for the Cascades, recording a monster double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Takeshi Croke put up 11 points, three rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Quotable:
UFV head coach Joe Enevoldson

"We have an outstanding group of young men, who have high character. Yesterday was obviously disappointing, but we went in and we challenged them and our team obviously responded with a double overtime game with the number three team in the country. So that just shows who they are as people."

"At the end of the game it felt a little bit like our season was over there, but it's just starting now. They saw what happened when we played up to our capabilities and our potential. Now we have to win a couple of games here down the stretch to ensure we make the playoffs."

"Tonight was a good team effort. We aren't in that game without Dario [Lopez] scoring 26, Takeshi {Croke]'s leadership has been amazing, and some guys really stepped up. Uyi [Ologhola] was great tonight. There was a lot of great all around, but we will have to replicate this now in practice."

Up next:
The Cascades return home next week for a pair of games against the MacEwan Griffins. Game times are set for 8pm on Friday, and 5pm on Saturday at the UFV Athletic Centre. The games can also be seen live on Canada West TV.

Cascades home games offer free admission for UFV students with their student card. You can keep up with all the action at gocascades.ca, or by following the UFV Cascades on social media at @ufvcascades

- With files from Jake McGrail / UBC Athletics -