WolfPack outlast Heat for weekend sweep

QUICK FIRE

• The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's basketball team completed a perfect start to their second semester of Canada West play with an 86-82 victory over the UBC Okanagan Heat Saturday night.
   

DIFFERENCE MAKERS

• Jayden Stephens and Steve Stinson were the catalysts of the WolfPack offence on the night. Stephens finished with 22 points and six rebounds while Stinson was 6-9 from the floor en route to 22 points of his own. Dami Farinloye added 15 points and five steals for the 'Pack.
• It was an historic night for the Heat's Jalen Shirley. The UBCO guard was 15-18 from the floor including 5-7 from long-range as his 43 points accounted for over half of UBCO's final tally and also set a new Heat program record.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams went bucket-for-bucket in the first quarter and were all knotted up at 20-20 after the opening 10 minutes of play. Stephens led TRU with seven points in the frame while Lamine Conde responded with 10 for UBCO.
• The Heat shot 61 per cent as a team in the second quarter to jump out to a lead at the half. Shirley scored 14 points in the quarter, including a last-second jumper to give the visitors a 44-36 edge.
• A 15-0 WolfPack run in the third quarter swung the game back in favour of the 'Pack. Trailing 55-48, TRU used six points apiece from Stinson and Farinloye as well as three from Jaeden Bynoe to storm all the way back and lead 63-55 after the third.
• The teams traded points for much of the fourth as TRU led by eight points for most of the final quarter. Shirley did his best to will the Heat to victory with 21 points in the fourth but Stinson answered with 10 and Stephens with another six to keep UBCO at bay and send TRU to the four-point victory.

 
NOTABLE

• The win moves TRU 10-4 on the season and secures the 'Pack a 3-0 season sweep over the Heat.
• This marks the first time TRU was won 10 Canada West games in back-to-back years since the 2014-15 – 2015-16 seasons.
• The WolfPack remain in third place in the Pacific Division only behind the 10-2 UBC Thunderbirds and the 11-2 UVic Vikes.
• TRU's bench outscored UBCO's 31-12.
• The WolfPack scored 50 points in the paint compared to the Heat's 36.

UP NEXT

• Next up for the WolfPack will be their final home games of the regular season. The 'Pack will take on the UFV Cascades in a rare Thursday night match on Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. before facing the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.