KAMLOOPS – With just three games remaining on their regular season schedule, the path to the playoffs just got a little bit more difficult for a Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's basketball team that fell 87-73 to the UNBC Timberwolves Friday night.
 
Now with a record of 5-12 on the season, the WolfPack find themselves two games behind the Timberwolves and UFV Cascades who hold the final two postseason spots. With TRU ending their season at home against the division-leading Manitoba Bisons next weekend, tomorrow night's rematch against UNBC will be critical for the club.
  
In the first quarter, it was the WolfPack hopping out to an early lead, fuelled by an Asher Mayan triple and early free throws. The two teams played hot potato with the lead and possession of any substantial momentum most of the frame, as UNBC first-year forward Evgeny Baukin came off the bench and thrilled the crowd with some tough finishes in the paint. 
 
Daniel Bost, TRU's oldest and most experienced player, made back-to-back jumpers, but an athletic alley-oop layup at the buzzer by Baukin made it a 16-15 game after ten minutes. 
  
In the second quarter, UNBC's offence came alive. Chris Ross made a corner three to start things off, followed by a triple from first-year guard Justin Sunga. Bost continued to shoot well for the Pack, but whenever he made a jumper, UNBC would respond with a good finish from Sunga, Ross, Darren Hunter, or Spencer Ledoux. At the half, the TWolves held a 47 34 advantage. 
  
After a scoreless first half, due to foul trouble and limited minutes, Fareed Shittu made his impact felt in the third frame. After Denys Bachurin scored four early points, and the deficit got tighter with a Cyrus Harrison three, Shittu scored eight consecutive points for the Timberwolves, including two thundering dunks that took the roof off the NSC. 
 
Bachurin answered for the Pack, continuing to get to his spot for buckets inside, before an Evan Smith triple cut the lead to 68-61; the score heading to the fourth quarter. 
 
In the fourth, with massive playoff implications at stake, UNBC did enough to hold off the visitors from Kamloops. Shittu made a three before Sunga put his stamp on the game, getting back-to-back steals, an acrobatic layup, and another three-pointer to go, re-establishing the Timberwolves' double-digit lead.
 
From there, despite TRU's best efforts, the TWolves sealed the game and held on for the 87-73 victory. 
 
"Our effort wasn't what it needed to be. This was our biggest game of the year and we came out flat in the first half and came out flat in the second half," said TRU veteran Simon Crossfield. "We picked it up in the last 15 minutes of the game, but it was too little, too late at that point."
 
Sunga led the way with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, four steals, and a perfect 4-for-4 night from three-point land, staking his claim to a spot on the Canada West All-Rookie team. 
 
Shittu had 16 points, Ledoux had 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists, Baukin scored 14 points, while Hunter added 11 points and four helpers. 
 
Mayan, Bachurin, and Bost each had 14 points to pace the WolfPack, while rookie Cyrus Harrison had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Evan Smith chipped in with 10 points. 
 
With the win, UNBC improves to 7-10, while the WolfPack fall to 5-12. With only three games remaining on the Canada West schedule, Saturday's rematch is of the utmost importance to the conference playoff race. 
 
"We have to come out with a better effort tomorrow," said Crossfield, postgame. "Our season is on the line. If we can't come out and show it tomorrow, there is no point in showing up. We have to come out tomorrow and get a split."
 
The two teams tip-off at 6 PM at the Northern Sport Centre, in the final home game of the season for the TWolves.