Rhys Elliott scores 19 in Timberwolves final game
Photo credit: Rich Lamb

VANCOUVER - The UNBC Timberwolves battled back but were unable to overcome an early deficit against the UBC Thunderbirds in game two of their Canada West quarter-final match-up. The Thunderbirds advance to the Canada West Final Four, while the Timberwolves can hold their heads high and look forward to next season knowing they made history as the first UNBC team to make it to the postseason since joining Canada West.

 The Thunderbirds spread the scoring with four players in double-digits. Conor Morgan led UBC with 19 points, while Kedar Wright put up 17 of his own. Canada West first team all-star Tommy Nixon netted 15 points, grabbed five boards and dished out five assists.

Rhys Elliott was key for the second night in a row. The Timberwolves guard put up a team high 19 points, while fifth year guard Jeff Chu added 16. Fifth year Devin McMurtry added 14 points along with Billy Cheng. The majority of the Timberwolves scoring was done in the second half when they netted 53 of their 78 points.

A slow start put the Timberwolves on the back foot early. Shooting only 26 percent in the first quarter UNBC dig themselves a 19-point hole in the first 10 minutes but managed to find their groove in the second quarter. Quick buckets from McMurtry and Cheng renewed the Twolves energy. Movement off the ball opened up some shots including a three from Chu with 4:02 to play in the first half. Chu's bucket cut the T-Birds' lead to 12 but they managed to pull once again, ending the first half 41-25.

With the advantage to the Thunderbirds, UNBC had their work cut out for them in the second half. Back-to-back threes from Elliott halfway through the third quarter closed the gap to a manageable 10 points.  A couple key turnovers put the Timberwolves in the position to claw their way back. With every basket the Thunderbirds scored the Twolves were able to answer keeping UBC from gaining any momentum. Two foul shots from Chu followed by a long ball with just under two minutes to play in the quarter put the Timberwolves as close as they would get on the night at 57-52. With seconds left on the clock Andrew McGuiness pulled the T-Birds back to 10 points lead to finish the third 62-52.

The Timberwolves continued to battle their way through the fourth quarter but put themselves at a disadvantage by accumulating five team fouls in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter. Even with Chu and Elliott scoring the majority of their points in the second half the Twolves were hard pressed to break the 10 point marker until Chu hit his third three of the night to put UNBC within eight of the T-Birds. The last two minutes saw Cheng and Franco Kouagnia foul out, while the T-Birds managed to keep a Timberwolves come back at bay. The UNBC T-Birds punched their card to the Canada West quarter finals with a 88-78 win over the UNBC Timberwolves.

It was the last game in a Timberwolves uniform for Jeff Chu, Franco Kouagnia, and Devin McMurtry. The three seniors finished an impressive season and have helped make UNBC history. The team will now look forward to building for next season.