On an otherwise difficult weekend for UBC Okanagan teams, the Heat men’s basketball squad delivered a solid effort on Saturday night for its second win of the Canada West season.
Paced by guards Aldrich Berrios and Mitch Goodwin, the Heat downed the visiting University of Regina Cougars 79-70 at the Kelowna campus gym to earn a weekend split between the teams.
UBC Okanagan won its first ever Canada West game against the U of R back in 2011.
On Saturday, Berrios scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the final quarter to propel the Heat (2-10) to victory over the Cougars (6-4).
Goodwin added 18 points, while Buzz Truss stepped up with a four-quarter flurry, making four free-throws and a layup in less than minute.
On Friday, the Heat battled with the Cougars to the finish, before falling 83-79. Berrios, who canned a career-high seven three-pointers, led UBCO with 29 points.
Goodwin delivered 25 points, while Truss rounded out the Heat’s top three with 10 points.
The Heat will look to build on Saturday’s win this coming weekend when they host the Victoria Vikes (3-7) on Friday and Saturday at UBCO.
Heat women…
The Heat women couldn’t contain the No. 4-ranked University of Regina, as the Cougars dominated both games of a Canada weekend set at UBCO.
On Friday, with the Heat committing 25 turnovers, the Cougars prevailed 76-38.
UBCO (2-10) also had trouble from three-point range, going 0-for-11 from beyond the arc.
All-time leading scorer Emily Kanester paced the home side with 13 points.
On Saturday, the Heat played considerably better in an 80-60 loss to Regina.
UBCO kept the game close at times, trailing 37-34 early in the second quarter and 60-51 early in the fourth, but the Cougars pulled away for good in the final minutes for a 20-point victory.
Kanester led the way again for the Heat with 15 points. Vanessa Botteselle and Chloe Kennedy added 14 and 13, respectively, while Jordan Korol was effective on the glass, finishing with seven rebounds.
The Heat will host the Victoria Vikes (6-4) this Friday and Saturday at the UBCO gym.