Against a quality opponent, the defending national champions brought their game.
The UNBC Northern Timberwolves beat the Capilano University Blues 79-69 Friday night at the Northern Sport Centre. For the Capilano men's basketball team, the loss was the first of the B.C. Colleges Athletic Association season. The Blues slipped to 9-1 and the Timberwolves improved to 8-2.
The T-wolves entered the night as the seventh-ranked team in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association and the Blues were No. 9.
Inderbir Gill led the Timberwolves with 19 points, while Dennis Stark knocked down 16. For the Blues, Michael Zayonc finished with 17.
The Timberwolves pulled away from the Blues in the third quarter, outscoring them 27-18. The home team led by as many as 18 points before Capilano closed the gap.
By keeping pressure on the ball, UNBC defenders forced Capilano into 19 turnovers and transformed those mistakes into 20 points. The Timberwolves were also deadly in transition and were ultimately too quick for the visitors.
"I was definitely happy with our energy defensively at times and I think our depth wore them down," said UNBC coach Todd Jordan. "You saw us make that push in the second half and I think that was just the result of our depth paying off."
The Timberwolves had a slim lead at halftime, 37-35. Sebastien-Kevin Louis, with eight points, was the top UNBC shooter in the opening 20 minutes. Zayonc had the hot hand for the Blues and hit for 11.
The Blues are coached by Prince George product Jordan Yu.
UNBC and Capilano will do it all over again tonight at the NSC. The game starts at 8.
