Sunday 6 March 2011

UBC takes Canada West Title

UBC 107, Saskatchewan 100  Fifth-year senior Alex Murphy had 34 points, eight assists and four steals in his final game at home and fellow fifth-years Josh Whyte and Brent Malish had 19 and 14 points respectively as the Thunderbirds made a case for the #1 seed at the CIS Final 8 by capturing Canada West championship with their 18th consecutive victory, now the longest winning streak in the nation.  Murphy and Malish each had 4 points in a 17-8 early in the fourth that broke open a two point game and Murphy later went 6 for 6 from the free throw line in the final minute to clinch it after Saskatchewan's Rejean Chabot brought Huskies back to within 4 with just under one minute to play.  Both teams advance to next weekend's CIS Final 8 in Halifax.

In front of 1,743 fans, UBC jumped out to leads as large as 17 at 23-6 late in the first quarter but 5'11" Jamelle Barrett, 6'1" Rejean Chabot and 6'7" Michael Lieffers led a 22-8 Saskatchewan run that got the game back to within 3.  But Murphy then had 11 points in a late second quarter run that restored a double digit lead and ultimately the Birds went into halftime leading by 9.

The lead got back up to as high as 15 early in the third but the Huskies had another run left and after a Lieffers dunk late in the quarter, Sask was back to within 1 at 67-66.  Murphy and Malish then key the big run that brought the Canada West championship back to Vancouver.  Chabot finished with 29 points and Barrett poured in a game-high 35 to go with seven assists.


Box Score
Gary Kingston from Vancouver Sun   Birds rely on Murphy's Law to win CW

Howard Tsumura of Vancouver Province  Birds tops in West, Spartans in limbo

Howard Tsumura of Vancouver Province  T-Birds, Huskies move into Final 8

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