Francis Rowe watched most of a Friday win from the bench.
On Saturday, the third-year guard for the UNBC Northern Timberwolves was back in the middle of the action and his superb outside shooting was a significant part of another victory against the Capilano University Blues.
In the men's basketball game, played at the Northern Sport Centre, the Timberwolves kept pulling away from the Blues whenever challenged and eventually prevailed 90-80. Rowe finished Saturday's contest with 18 points in 25 minutes of floor time. In Friday's 79-69 decision, he scored just two points in nine minutes of duty.
In the rematch, Rowe was especially hot mid way through the second quarter. The Blues had pulled themselves into a four-point deficit, 32-28, and Rowe went off. He started his barrage with a two-point jump shot and then drained a three-ball. After a Capilano bucket, Rowe drilled two more treys in quick succession. Just like that, the Timberwolves were back in control, 43-30.
Rowe said "inexcusable" defensive mistakes on his part relegated him to the pine on Friday. He was much more satisfied with his Saturday performance and gave credit to teammates Sebastien-Kevin Louis and Inderbir Gill for getting him the ball when he was in prime shooting position.
"Seb and Gill did a good job of finding me open, and [the Blues] kept leaving me," said Rowe, a tournament all-star when the Timberwolves won nationals last season. "I got good looks in the corners and [the shots] just went down."
UNBC coach Todd Jordan said Rowe's dazzling performance was a testament to his character.
"One thing we talk about with the guys all the time is that it's about that one goal of getting to playoffs, getting to nationals and hopefully having a shot at repeating," Jordan said. "We've got to stay selfless and some nights guys are going to have to sacrifice, just like Francis did [Friday] night. He struggled a bit and for him to be mentally tough enough to come back tonight and knock down those shots, it was great."
The second-quarter surge initiated by Rowe repeated itself a couple more times in the game, and the Blues never could catch up. On the night, Gill led the way with 26 points and Louis had 21.
UNBC's weekend sweep of Capilano means both teams now have 9-2 records in the B.C. Colleges Athletic Association. The T-wolves, however, moved ahead of the Blues in the standings, into second place. The top two teams at the end of the 18-game regular season will receive first-round byes in playoffs.
The Blues, from North Vancouver, are younger and more inexperienced than the Timberwolves so coach Jordan Yu wasn't too disappointed his club came up short in both games.
"Going 9-0 the first half of the season, battling with the previous national champions that are fourth- and fifth-year players, we didn't lose this weekend," said Yu, who grew up in Prince George. "I can't take this as a loss right now. Sure we lost on the basketball court but me, myself, I don't feel I lost as a coach at all. [The Timberwolves] have some talented players. Inderbir Gill is one of the best players in the country and they shot the lights out this weekend. They have some guards that can lead them through games."
n Also Saturday night, the UNBC women's basketball team finished off a successful weekend against Capilano. The Timberwolves, thanks in part to a dominant second quarter in which they outscored the Blues 25-13, won 83-74. A key difference in the game was free-throw shooting. UNBC went 20-for-21 from the line, while Capilano hit just 10 of 19 attempts.
Jennifer Clyne, with 15 points, led a balanced UNBC attack, while Jessica Franz (24) and Jenna Ralston (23) did the bulk of the scoring for the visitors.
The fourth-place T-wolves -- who recorded a 99-72 victory on Friday -- moved to 8-3 on the season. The Blues, who dropped from first to second place, are now 9-2.
The UNBC teams will host the Kwantlen Eagles this coming Friday and Saturday.
