WolfPack welcome Heat for first games of 2026

Game Information
 
Date: Friday, Dec. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: TCC Gym
Tickets
 
Date: Saturday, Dec. 10
Time: 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: TCC Gym
Tickets
 
Weekend Story
 
The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's basketball team will look to hit the ground running in 2026 as they are set to host the UBC Okanagan Heat inside the TCC this weekend.

Battling the Heat on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 6:00 p.m., the games will be key for a TRU team that compiled one of the best starts to a season in program history.
With eight wins to their name in the first semester, TRU is currently third in the Pacific Division and right on the heels of the UBC Thunderbirds for second.

Up for grabs this weekend will be more than playoff positioning however as the weekend will also decide the winner of the 2025-26 Presidents' Cup. An annual competition between Interior rivals TRU and UBCO in their head-to-head games in basketball, volleyball and soccer the Presidents' Cup was awarded every year from 1993-2003 and again from 2013 to present day. TRU enters the weekend needing one win to clinch the cup as the WolfPack hold a 3-2 edge.

TRU (8-4) ended their first semester on a high in their last CW action as they never trailed in a 90-69 win over the UNBC Timberwolves. Third-year guard Jaeden Bynoe had his best game as a member of the WolfPack with 19 points in the win.

The WolfPack were in action for a pair of exhibition games over the winter break, splitting two contests with MRU Cougars. The WolfPack fell 83-79 in overtime night one before bouncing back to beat the Cougars 72-70.

UBCO (3-9) enters the weekend needing to secure some results to get back into the CW playoff picture. The Heat are two games back of the TWU Spartans for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

These teams met in the first game of the season back on October 24 with TRU securing a 76-57 victory. TRU's Jayden Stephens led all scorers with 23 points in the game.

3 Things
 
1: Fryer's Express will be serving up hot food inside the TCC all year long.
 
2: The WolfPack will be trying to claim the men's version of the Presidents' Cup for the third year in a row.
 
3: TRU has won their last four games against UBCO and are 12-5 all-time against the Heat in Kamloops.
 
By The Numbers
 
18.4 & 17.8: The games will feature two of the highest scoring players in the conference. UBCO's Jalen Shirley is third in CW with 18.4 points-per-game while TRU's Jayden Stephens is fifth with a mark of 17.8.
 
31: TRU's Jayden Green is leading the conference with 31 steals so far this season.
 
66.8: The WolfPack boast the stingiest defence in the conference, allowing just 66.8 points against per-game this season.