KELOWNA, B.C. – Timberwolves men's basketball team found their groove early to cruise to a 86-56 victory over the UBC Okanagan Heat Thursday evening. The Timberwolves advance to second in the Explorer Division with a 11-8 record.

The Timberwolves dominated the first 10 minutes, kicking it off with a 17-0 run to put the Heat on the hind foot. Franco Kouagnia (Yaounde, CMR) was a force for the Timberwolves netting eight points in the first quarter alone. Mitch Goodwin (Kelowna, BC) was key for the Heat, sinking two quick threes to start the game. Goodwin led scoring for the Heat with 16 points.

The Timberwolves defense was suffocating for UBC Okanagan, who struggled to find ways to properly penetrate, find good passing lanes and get good looks from within the three-point arc. UNBC would pick up nine steals throughout the course of the game, put up 25 points off of turnovers, and hold the Heat to 35% shooting from the floor.

Despite a size disadvantage, the Heat still managed to do battle with the Timberwolves bigs on both ends of the court, only narrowly losing the rebounding war 37-35. The Heat completed this feat by committee, with five players all tying with a team-high four boards for the contest.

Cameroon native Kouagnia led all scorers with 18 points, just missing out on the double-double with nine rebounds. He served as the focal point of the offense most possessions, operating out of the high post and using his size to attract the defenders before distributing the ball for layups.

As a team the Timberwolves accumulated 19 dimes. Four by starting guard Rhys Elliott (Adelaide, AUS) to lead the Twolves. Marcus MacKay (Terrace, BC) went 4-9 from beyond the arc to account for all 12 of his points of the bench. UNBC's bench would score 46 points versus just 21 points from UBC Okanagan non-starters.

UBC Okanagan coach Pete Guarasci would utilize several different lineup looks to throw different angles at UNBC, to varied effects. Rookies Austin Penrose (West Vancouver, BC) and Brian Ademba (Nairobi, KEN) would put in short but quality minutes, notably on the offensive and defensive ends, respectively.

First-year Aldrich Berrios would reach double-digit points behind Goodwin with ten for the Heat. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves' Mitch Howden (Abbotsford, BC) caught fire in the second half, finishing a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc for 16 points in just 13 minutes.

The Timberwolves improve to 11-8 in regular season, while the Heat dip to 3-16. Both teams will play their final games of the 2014-15 Canada West regular season tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the UBC Okanagan gymnasium.