In their first game of 2025, the understaffed UNBC Timberwolves suffered an overwhelming fate, losing 90-58 to the Fraser Valley Cascades Friday in Abbotsford.
Chris Jackson, who returned to UFV’s lineup after a lengthy injury, led the way for the Cascades with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Third-year Russian Evgeny Baukin posted a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds to lead the TWolves, who had just nine players available for the game.
UNBC jumped out to a strong start, posting an 18-16 lead on the strength of nine first quarter points from Baukin. The energy for UNBC was palpable from the jump as Milan Pasquale, Wesley Ainu’u and Isaiah Bias were all making their first Canada West starts. Pasquale supplied the first five points on the night for UNBC before Baukin then took over with nine of his squad’s final five first quarter points. Takeshi Croke and Jackson each supplied four in response for UFV.
A triple from Baukin and a pair of tough layups from Chris Ainsley got the offense started for UNBC in the second quarter, but UFV outscored them 12-9 in the opening five minutes to take a slim 28-27 lead. A pair of buckets from Croke and individual makes from Matthias Klim and Uyi Ologhola helped get them there.
The hosts continued on a 7-1 run to push their lead to 35-28, but Marcus Wilson swiped momentum back with a triple moving UNBC back within four (35-31). A late three from UFV’s Ismael Hernandez and a pair of successful free-throws from Baukin rounded out the scoring in quarter 2 as UFV took a 38-33 lead into the half.
UFV had outscored UNBC 19-9 to start the third quarter and extended the lead to 55-42. Jackson supplied nine of those 19 points for the Cascades. UFV’s third-quarter dominance continued as they outscored the TWolves 11-2 down the stretch on their way to a 68-44 lead through three.
Both coaches leaned on their benches in the final quarter as UFV outscored UNBC 22-14. The fourth quarter bright spot offensively for the Green and Gold was Ainu’u, who posted seven of his career-high 11 points. Jake Willemsen went 3-for-3 in the final period for UFV and scored eight of his 11 points in the quarter.
The win improved Fraser Valley’s Pacific Division record to 5-6, while UNBC dropped to 1-8.
UNBC will take on UBC in Vancouver Saturday at 6 p.m.
