UBC Okanagan earned the win against the University of the Fraser Valley Saturday night with last-minute heroics from guard Randall Mosca.
Saturday, February 6th, 2016
UBC Okanagan, Kelowna, BC
FINAL 1 2 3 4 T UFV (10-6) 15 20 17 13 65 UBC Okanagan (8-8) 20 14 20 14 68
KELOWNA, B.C. - Randall Mosca completed the three point play with 6.8 seconds left to give the UBC Okanagan Heat a 68-65 narrow win on Saturday night over the visiting Fraser Valley Cascades.
UBC Okanagan improves their record in the Explorer division of Canada West men's basketball to 8-8, UFV now sits at 10-6, but hold onto second place. The Heat maintain their one game lead for third in the division.
With the game tied at 65, Heat guard Randall Mosca dribble drove with the ball and gave UBC Okanagan a two-point lead on a contested jump shot, and was fouled on the shot by Cascades guard Marcus Morgan. Mosca converted the and-one, giving the Heat a three point lead. UBC Okanagan then forced UFV's Brandon Burke into a long three-point shot for the tie right at the buzzer, which he missed.
On the and-one that gave his team the late lead, Heat head coach Pete Guarasci said, "Usually once a week we work on a late game situation, but I think that was just more Randall being Randall, and finding a way to make that bucket. It wasn't anything I drew up; that was just Randall making a big play."
Scoring leaders for the contest were Heat guard Mitch Goodwin and Cascades guard Manny Dulay, each with 24 points. Cascades forwards Nate Brown and Navjot Bains led in rebounding with seven each, Heat guard Randall Mosca led in steals, with two, Cascades guard Marcus Morgan led in the blocks column, with two, and Heat forward Mitch Goodwin led the game in assists, finishing with five.
In team statistics, UFV led in shooting percentage, finishing the game with 49.0% (33.3 3FG%) to UBC Okanagan’s 38.2% (28.6 3FG%), as well as rebounds (37-34), and blocks (3-1). UBC Okanagan finished the game ahead in free throw percentage (80.0% - 75.0%), assists (17-3), and steals (3-2).
After the first quarter, UBC Okanagan led UFV 20-15. The opening frame featured Nate Brown (8) and Buzz Truss (6) as the leading scorers for the Cascades and the Heat respectively. The Heat as a team shot 52.9% (33.3 3FG%), for a slight statistical advantage over the Cascades’ 50% (25.0 3FG%). UBC Okanagan led in the assists (6-0), steals (1-0), and blocks (1-0) categories as well, while UFV led in the rebounds column (9-5). The Cascades’ Brown was the only player to shoot free throws in the first, making four of five.
At half time, UFV led by a single point, 35-34. The Cascades’ Manny Dulay and Brandon Burke led all scorers in the second quarter, with eight apiece in the period. UFV made eight of 12 shots in the second quarter, to shoot 66.7% (40.0 3FG%) to finish the first half shooting 59.1% (33.3 3FG%). UBC Okanagan made five of 16 shots from the floor, and one of seven from three, to shoot 31.3% (14.3 3FG%) to put their first half shooting percentage at 42.4% (23.1 3FG%). The Heat maintained their leads in assists (9-1), and steals (2-1), while the Cascades gained the advantage in blocks (2-1) and increased their edge in rebounding (20-10).
The third quarter ended with UBC Okanagan leading 54-52. UFV’s leading scorer in the frame was Manny Dulay, with eight points, and Mitch Goodwin led the way for UBC Okanagan , with 11 points in the frame. The Cascades shot 50% (100 3FG%) in the third, and held the Heat to 40% (57.1 3FG%). After three quarters UBC Okanagan had the edge in steals (3-2), and assists (14-2), while UFV led in rebounds (27-19), blocks (3-1) and free throws (10-7)
The final quarter’s scoring was led by UFV’s Manny Dulay with five points, and UBC Okanagan’s Mitch Goodwin, with four. The Cascades shot 33.3% (20.0 3FG%), slightly better than the Heat’s 30.0% (12.5 3FG%). UBC Okanagan had the edge in rebounds (13-10), assists (3-1), and free throw shooting (100%-66.7%) in the final period.
Asked what factors gave his team the edge, coach Guarasci said, "Mitch Goodwin. It was a big score by Randall at the end there, which was important . . . I just think Mitch was really aggressive for most of the game. That was really important, we needed him to be like that, and he stepped up and led us." He continued, "they were playing without two of their best guys, so you take it for what it is. A win is a win."
The upcoming series for UBCO will be huge. The Heat host the MacEwan Griffins for two games on February 12-13, in November these teams split in Edmonton and UBC Okanagan has just a single game lead in the Canada West standings.
The Cascades return to Abbotsford the Friday-Saturday (Feb. 12-13) to play the first place TRU WolfPack, the 'Pack will be playing for first seed in the Explorer Division an d the coveted first round bye in the post season.
~ Grayson Leahy // Heat sports information