KELOWNA - Timberwolves head into postseason on a high note after sweeping UBC Okanagan Heat. The UNBC Timberwolves won their final game of the regular season 85-64 and currently sit in second place in the Explorer Division with a 12-8 record, while the Heat finish the season at 3-17.

Fifth-year Timberwolves center Franco Kouagnia (Yaounde, CMR) had a slow start but once again dominated the ballgame on the inside, going for 16 points to just miss a double-double with nine rebounds. Fellow frontcourt running mate Devin McMurtry (Surrey, BC) did complete a double-double for UNBC with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Rhys Elliott (Adelaide, AUS) assisted from outside with 13 points.

Heat coach Pete Guarasci opted to run rookies Ryan Morck and Dean Johnston against the frontline of McMurtry to some success in the first half. Johnston had eight of his team-high 12 points in the first quarter. Morck went for 10 points and nine boards to just miss the double-double to collect Heat Player Game Honours.

A composed Heat team started the game, unable to get a foothold the Timberwolves traded possessions with the Heat throughout the first half. The Timberwolves worked to get the ball inside to Kouagnia, who led the Timberwolves 12 first half points.

Outside shooting was key for the Heat who managed to lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to a buzzer beater from Mitch Goodwin (Kelowna, BC) to give the Heat a 23-22 lead. The Timberwolves wouldn't be able to overcome the Heat's marginal advantage until partway through the second quarter when some quick transition plays by Rhys Elliott and Billy Cheng (Richmond, BC) pushed UNBC ahead of their host. At the half UNBC led 44-39.

With Heat's leading scorer and rebound getter in David Manshreck taking an early seat with foul trouble, as well as an untimely scoring drought the home team manage just 25 points in the final two quarters combined. This gave way for the Timberwolves to pull ahead and eventually work their way to a sizeable lead. Second-chance points, particularly in the second half, buoyed UNBC to its victory, putting up 20 in that category.

A four minute lapse in scoring for the Heat in the final quarter was countered by sharp shooting from the Timberwolves. Threes from Nolan Hanson (Prince George, BC) and Cheng boosted the Twolves along with transition layups from Elliott and Vaggelis Loukas (Athens, GRE). In the end the Timberwolves finished the regular season with a 85-64 win over the Heat.

The Timberwolves currently sit in second place and will have to wait until the remainder of games conclude this weekend to determine final standings and who they will face in the playoffs. Follow the Twolves postseason action at unbc.ca/timberwolves.