An early-season top-10 showdown provided the drama but not the right result for the home team Friday night.
The No. 8-ranked Winnipeg Wesmen couldn't get a shot off in the final seconds and the No. 3-ranked UBC Thunderbirds escaped with a 76-72 Canada West conference men's basketball victory at the Duckworth Centre.
The clash between the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the Canada West pre-season coaches poll provided what one might expect: The largest lead was 10 points, the game was tied eight times and the lead changed hands seven.
In the end, though, the T-Birds were able to scrape out a victory to remain undefeated at 3-0 while the Wesmen fell to 2-1.
UBC pulled ahead for good on two James Woods free throws with 51 seconds left and the Wesmen had two cracks on their next possession to tie it, but
Shawn Maranan and
Mikhail Mikhailov both missed shots around the rim.
The Wesmen forced a turnover shortly thereafter but, on the ensuing possession, Maranan slipped in the short corner and touched out of bounds. The Thunderbirds took a timeout, but on the inbound threw it away, giving Winnipeg one last chance. The Wesmen were unable to get a clean inbound pass in and Micah Jessie stole it and turned it into a layup at the other end.
Alberto Gordo scored eight first-quarter points and finished with a game-high 21 to lead the Wesmen. Maranan scored 11, Mikhailov had 10 and 11 rebounds, and
Malachi Alexander chipped in with 10 and seven.
UBC was led by Brian Wallack's 15 points, while Wood and Fareed Shittu both scored 14. Jessie dropped 12.
The Wesmen shot 37 per cent from three, but will rue their inadequacy at the free throw line, where they shot 3-for-10. Conversely, the T-Birds who were held to 47.5 per cent from the field, made 16 of 20 from the line.
The two teams meet again Saturday with tip at 5 p.m.
