Size matters.
The UBC Thunderbirds proved that in spades on Saturday cruising to a 101-69 win over the UNBC Timberwolves at the Northern Sports Centre.
Six-foot-ten matchup nightmare Sukhman Sandhu burst out of the gate hot for UBC notching 13 first quarter points, giving the Thunderbirds a nine-point edge, which included a game-starting 10-0 run.
The Timberwolves on the other hand didn’t score their first points until the four-minute mark.
Despite getting within seven early in the second quarter, the Timberwolves could not put a massive dent into the UBC defence even with Sandhu exiting the game with a suspected ankle.
Right on cue, the Thunderbirds showed their depth and scoring touch later in the quarter extending their advantage to 21 points at recess courtesy of captain Grant Audu who had a game-high 23 points and six rebounds.
“It means a lot to me, playing both sides of the game,” said Audu, postgame.
“Making sure I take care of not only offense, but defense as well. I take it as an honour every time I am put on the best player on the other team.”
Hear from @ubctbirds star @Grant_WT after his 23 point, 6 rebound, 5 assist performance against @UNBCBasketball pic.twitter.com/3PiYgKbTRZ
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) November 28, 2021
Audu continued to take over the game in the third quarter who used his length and athleticism to penetrate for buckets at the rim.
With the score out of reach both teams went deep into their bench and played their younger players.
UBC (8-0) went 41-for-69 on field goals and also recorded 68 points in the paint.
Vova Pluzhnikov tallied a game-high 14 points in defeat for the 2-4 Timberwolves who head to Victoria next weekend to play the Vikes.
POSTGAME: @UNBCBasketball veteran guard @VovaPluzhnikov talks his team’s effort against the @ubctbirds pic.twitter.com/i8fO5V5kmf
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) November 28, 2021
On Friday, the Thunderbirds gutted out a tight-checking 85-76 victory over UNBC.
Payton Tirrell posted 20 points and seven rebounds for the Timberwolves in defeat.
However, some history was made despite the loss. Pluzhinkov surpassed James Agyeman for assists in UNBC’s Canada West history with 214.
In addition, Tyrell Laing became the school’s highest scoring player since joining the conference with 938.
James Woods led the way offensively for the T-Birds with 22 points including a 10-for-16 showing on field goals.
In women’s action, the Timberwolves played a pair of nail biters against UBC.
A combined 35-point effort from Kate Johnson and Emily Martindale proved to be just enough as the T-Birds outlasted UNBC 68-66 on Saturday.
UBC was aggressive right out of the gate, pressuring the T-Wolves in the opening minutes.
However, some tough baskets via Rebecca Landry and Alina Shakirova found their way to the hoop.
Dina Strujic, Emily Martindale, and Hailey Counsell each made three-pointers for the T-Birds, who found themselves trailing 19-16 after ten minutes.
The physical affair continued into the second quarter with only three fouls being called but UNBC held the slim 38-34 advantage.
Johnson and Martindale took the game over for the Thunderbirds in the third quarter nailing several mid-range jumpers to go along with a three-pointer.
After being down as many 13, UNBC stormed all the way back courtesy of big baskets from first year players Sarah Kuklisin and Taylor Blais who helped cut the deficit down to five.
The fourth quarter was another one for the books.
Alina Shakirova made a pair of early three-pointers to claw the TWolves closer, as the two programs traded leads for much of the frame.
However, Johnson slashed for a tough bucket inside, and then made a dagger three pointer in the final minute, giving the T-Birds the edge.
“Kate, our point guard does an amazing job keeping us settled and keeping us calm in situations like that,” said Martindale, postgame.
“Full credit to her. I am still working on that, as a young player. We definitely have been in these situations multiple times, so I think that helped us out there.”
POSTGAME: @EmilyM236 of @UBCWBBall had 17 points and 8 boards, helping @ubctbirds to a narrow 68-66 win over @UNBCWomensBball. Hear from the Ancaster, Ontario product after the victory pic.twitter.com/sClYuHgpFH
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) November 28, 2021
UNBC was unable to score in its final possession dropping to 4-2 on the season while UBC improved to 3-5.
Shakirova notched 17 points in defeat.
On Friday, a career night by Anastasia Soltis propelled the T-Wolves to an 81-77 triumph over UBC.
The Calgary product had 23 points, six rebounds and six assists.
A career high 23 points, to go along with 6 boards and 6 assists for @stassoltes in @UNBCWomensBball big win over @UBCWBBall tonight in PG! Hear from the Lightning Solt! pic.twitter.com/pkuzrXVWJv
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) November 27, 2021
Five UNBC players hit double-digit points including Shakirova, Laura Garmendia-Garcia, Rebecca Landry and Svetlana Boykova.
Both teams were tied 25-25 after the first quarter, before UBC held a five-point edge at halftime.
With the T-Birds up 77-76 with less than a minute remaining, veteran point guard Lucy Guan drove and got a tough and-1 jumper to go, thrilling the UNBC crowd.
The Vancouver native converted a free-throw to extend the lead for the Timberwolves.
After UBC failed to score on their next possession, a pair of Shakirova makes from the charity stripe sealed the deal.