KELOWNA, BC – Continuing their preseason the UBC Okanagan basketball teams reach out to the community and played a game at a local high school, for the first time since 2012 Immaculata Regional hosted the Canada West men’s basketball team this Friday night (Oct. 9), the Heat thrilled the capacity crowd with a 72-61 victory over the visiting NAIT Ooks.
NAIT, a perennial contender in the ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference), played the part of the opponent and battled the young CIS team tough through all four quarters.
Second year guard Aldrich Berrrios, relived his high school days – where he averaged 30 points a game for Notre Dame Regional in Burnaby – starred on the high school hardwood tonight. Berrios scored 26 points, hitting 7-11 from long distance to power the Heat. His partners in crime in the backcourt, Randall Mosca and Mitch Goodwin weren’t as deadly from long range but they hit two (2-6) and three (3-9) from downtown respectively to score 14 and 13 points to aid in the cause.
UBC Okanagan trailed out of the gate and through most of the first before Berrios closed the quarter with two straight threes to give UBCO a 19-17 edge. The Heat never trailed again as the Kelowna squad was able to continually add to their lead throughout the rest of the contest.
Four Ooks reached double digits on Friday, Connor Dolson led NAIT in scoring with 14 points, he also hauled in eight boards to lead both teams. Donny Moss hit three threes and finished with 13, Chris Mooney also finished with 13 points. Julien McFadden finished with 10.
Barely edging NAIT on the glass UBC Okanagan grabbed 45 rebounds to the Ooks 43. Austin Penrose and Mosca both grabbed seven to lead the Heat.
The crowd was in to the game throughout and was especially frenzied with the large group of Steve Nash League players in attendance, the young basketball players enjoyed a UBC Okanagan win. The Heat led by as much as 18 mid way through the third and cruised to their second win of the preseason.
The Ooks lost both games in the Okanagan after falling to TRU (78-60) on Thursday in Kamloops, the Heat will next play on Friday, October 16th against the Trinity Western Spartans in Kamloops in a tournament hosted by Thompson Rivers.