THUNDERBIRD SPORTS CENTRE 鈥� The first CIS men鈥檚 basketball championship to return to UBC after a 44-year drought saw an East versus West final, the continued cementing of a Canadian legacy, and one of the most exhilarating games the Thunderbirds have played in years.
More than 24,000 spectators took their seats at the hockey arena-turned basketball court for the eight-team national tournament, held at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre and its slightly hockey-centric double-digit scoreboard that showed a 鈥�01-79鈥� final in the championship game March 20.聽
Seeded eighth, UBC played the No. 1 Ryerson Rams in the fourth quarterfinal of the night March 17. In a roller-coaster game that didn鈥檛 see the visitors lead, through four quarters, the T-Birds lost 109-101 in overtime.
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The Rams scored 19 points in four minutes of OT, putting up more baskets than they did in the first quarter. Jordan Jensen-Whyte, the T-Birds offensive anchor, led them with 25 points, while graduating T-Birds senior David Wagner went seven-for-seven in the third to put up 15 points and lift UBC to an eight-point lead at the close of the quarter. He had 22 points when it was all said and done.
In the consolation round, UBC defeated the McGill Redmen 69-68 and went on to win fifth overall in a 93-76 win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Head coach Kevin Hansen said the attitude of his players surprised him.
"We exerted so much energy in that first game emotionally and physically. I was really worried about it until I went into the change room and saw how excited the guys were. I've never seen a group of guys so excited to play a fifth-sixth game in my life," he said, adding fans and alumni celebrated the 2-1 tournament record as a success. 鈥淓verybody said they were proud of this team.鈥�
In one of Saturday鈥檚 semifinals, Ryerson lost 98-87 to the Calgary Dinos, setting up a final between the Canada West and Ontario University Athletics, represented by the 10-titles-in-12-years dynasty from Carleton.
The Carleton Ravens started the tournament by knocking off Thompson-Rivers WolfPack from Kamloops and then Halifax鈥檚 Dalhousie Tigers. In the final against Calgary, the Ravens five starters all put up double-digit points in the 101-79 win.
痴补苍肠辞耻惫别谤鈥檚 , added eight points 鈥� six of those from outside 鈥� plus five rebounds and an assist and a steal.
The national championship is the sixth consecutive title for the Carleton men鈥檚 basketball team.
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