Fifth-year guard Yassine Ghomari (Vancouver, BC) was name to the all-tourney team after leading the Heat in scoring over the two games with 42 total points. (Photo by Alex Hill)
Men’s Basketball (Exhibition play)
Murchison Gym, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, Calif.
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – The UBC Okanagan Heat spent part of the winter break in California as they played in the 38th Annual Tom Byron Classic, hosted by Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. The four-team two-day tournament also featured No. 7 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies, as well as the Marygrove Mustangs from Detroit, MI., and the host Westmont Warriors. Both the Mustangs and the Warriors are members of the NAIA.
The Heat would drop both games, but second year head coach of UBC Okanagan, Pete Guarasci, thought the trip was well worth the troubles and liked the way his team gelled just by being together for the extended trip.
“I’ve learned a thing or two,” Guarasci said about the planning and what to expect on an international winter trip, “I will for sure do one again, and after having been through the experience I’ve made the contacts and know how I want to schedule the trip to maximize it for my guys.”
Monday, December 30, 2013 – Westmont (Calif.) – L, 83-79 BOXSCORE
| Score by Periods |
1st |
2nd |
Total |
| UBC Okanagan |
37 |
42 |
79 |
| Westmont (Calif.) |
51 |
32 |
83 |
The Heat men’s basketball team opened the tournament against the host Westmont Warriors, and despite trailing by 14 points at the half, the UBC Okanagan Heat would make the home team sweat in the final minutes, yet would ultimately fall 83-79 to the Warriors.
Guard Yassine Ghomari (5th year, Vancouver, BC) led the way in scoring for the Heat with 25 points on 9-15 shooting. Backcourt mate and fellow fifth-year Landry Ndayitwayeko (Windsor, ON) dropped 11 points, going 3-3 from long distance. Big man six-foot nine Stuart Wallensteen (2nd year, Nanaimo, BC) dropped 10 and led the squad with six boards.
The Heat were outrebounded by six (35-29), totaled three less assists (18-15), turned the ball over twice as much as the Warriors (6-12), were out-blocked (5-1), gave up three more steals (7-4), and sunk five less free throws (15-10), but it was the 11 three-point field goals – as opposed to Westmont’s two-of-ten performance from beyond the arc – that allowed the Heat and to creep back in the second half.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013 – Marygrove (MI.) – L, 76-62 BOXSCORE
| Score by Periods |
1st |
2nd |
Total |
| UBC Okanagan |
31 |
31 |
62 |
| Marygrove |
34 |
42 |
76 |
In the consolation game of the long-running tournament, the UBC Okanagan Heat men’s basketball team did not have the shooting touch they displayed in the opening game and fell to Marygrove Mustangs 76-62.
Shooting just 2-10 from long distance for the game as a team, the Heat were once again led in scoring from their captain, fifth-year guard Yassine Ghomari. He dropped 17 on the Mustangs yet did not attempt a three, while going 9-10 from the charity stripe.
Once again the post was capably manned by Stuart Wallensteen, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds – top on the team in terms of rebounding.
James Lum, the third year point from Vancouver, finished with 12 points rounding out the three UBC Okanagan players in double-figures.
During the coldest weather of the year the Heat will open the second-half of their Canada West schedule in two of the coldest places, on the longest trip of the year. Friday night the Heat will try and drop the Regina Cougars in the Queen City and on Saturday, in Brandon, MB the Heat will attempt to de-claw another Prairie cat as they battle the Brandon Bobcats.
Both games will be broadcast on CanadaWest.TV