In what was a billed as a David vs Goliath matchup, the heavily-favoured Alberta Golden Bears imposed their will against the UNBC Timberwolves on Friday.
The number one ranked team in Canada West proved to be too much for UNBC as they steamrolled to a 98-64 victory.
GBB??
BEARS WIN!!@UofAbearsbball take the first game of the playoff series against @UNBCATHLETICS 98-64. Game 2 of the series takes place tomorrow at 2pm at Saville Community Sports Centre #GreenandGold pic.twitter.com/9bKTahXAn6— UAlberta Golden Bears & Pandas (@BearsandPandas) February 16, 2018
Mamadou Gueye paced the Golden Bears to a 23-point performance going seven-for-13 on field goals while Brody Clarke also chipped in with 18 points.
Vova Pluzhnikov and Jovan Lemay both had a team-high 16 points for UNBC.
Alberta posted 30 points off turnovers by the T-Wolves and outrebounded them 44-30.
The Golden Bears take a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-three matchup.
Game two is slated for 1PM Pacific time on Saturday in Edmonton.
.@BearsandPandas pull away to top @UNBCBasketball 98-64. Leamy (16), Pluzhnikov (16), and MacKay (14) pace the TWolves in scoring. Game Two goes tomorrow at 1 PM Pacific.
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) February 16, 2018