Langara's Royce Sargeant has returned to the Falcons' starting lineup this season despite a horrific accident in August. (Photo by Dom Gagne property of Langara Falcons athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Although they have made two Final 8 national tourney appearances since, UBC Thunderbirds' head coach Kevin Hanson has his team at the event's traditional Halifax site for the first time since it lost in the semifinals back in 2011. It's a first-time trip for star guard Jadon Cohee. (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

UBC hoops back in Halifax! On long journey to Final 8 nationals, here’s why you can stamp these underdog ‘Birds as ‘battle-tested’

VANCOUVER — Over the course of a 17-game in-conference win streak which defined its Canada West regular season schedule, it was sometimes difficult to wonder if the UBC Thunderbirds were getting the level of competition which would best serve them on the road towards qualifying for the ultimate challenge.

Simon Fraser Clan head coach Steve Hanson calls Jasdeep Singh (centre) and Julian Roche (tight) the best front court duo in the GNAC.The pair leads SFU into the post season for the first time in nine seasons on Thursday. (Photo property of Simon Fraser Clan athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
One of the most significant days of UBC's 2018-19 season came before the ball was even tipped off. As was evident Sunday, the off-season signings of Jadon Cohee (left) and Manroop Clair were critical. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

With win at Alberta, UBC bound for Final 8 national tourney! Victory magnifies key recruitments of stars Jadon Cohee, Manroop Clair

VANCOUVER — Kevin Hanson has had enough post-season disappointment over the last number of years that he wasn’t going to sugar-coat his emotions.

UBC guard Mason Bourcier did all of his scoring when it mattered most, taking over the game down the fourth quarter stretch-drive to give UBC a 74-62 win over the host Alberta Golden Bears in the opening game of their best-of-three conference semifinal Friday in Edmonton. (File photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

UBC protects paint, leans on Bourcier late to extract a pure-guts road win over Alberta in conference semifinal opener

The UBC Thunderbirds knew they needed a hot start on the offensive end and a courageous one on the defensive end if they were going to give themselves any chance at coming out Edmonton this weekend with a berth to the Canada West championship final next March 2 in Calgary against the host Dinos, and […]

UBC's Manroop Clair (front) dribbles out of the clutches of Fraser Valley's Parm Bains on Saturday at War Memorial Gymnasium. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

The Jordan-esque Manroop Clair! UBC shooting star skips morning shoot around, saves energy for series-clinching win over UFV

VANCOUVER — By his own admission, Manroop Clair is still not back in game shape.Yet the UBC Thunderbirds’ dead-eye shooting guard is so dangerous that even without his legs fully under him, he’s still capable of being a difference maker.On Saturday, still reeling from having played back-to-back games the previous two nights in its Canada […]

UBC's Jadon Cohee brought the aggressive nature back to his game Friday and helped the 'Birds stave off elimination at the hands of the visiting Fraser Valley Cascades. (Photo by Wilson Wong property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

After playing “…one of the worst games of my career” UBC’s Jadon Cohee flips the script Friday as ‘Birds stay alive with win over UFV

VANCOUVER — Jadon Cohee has had some great days playing basketball in his home province of B.C.Like scoring 22 points and being picked tournament MVP in leading the Walnut Grove Gators to the B.C. senior boys Triple A championship in March of 2013.Or later that summer, picking up the phone to take a call from […]

Fraser Valley's Sukhjot Bains (left) rises in the paint against UBC's Grant Shephard (centre) and Mason Bourcier during Game 1 of Canada West quarterfinal Thursday at War Gym in Vancouver. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

After UFV’s three-point daggers stagger UBC in Game 1, Cascades coach Friesen says “…we came in with the belief winning was possible”

VANCOUVER — The Fraser Valley Cascades vowed last week that they would never let indecisive play be the reason they weren’t advancing through the Canada West playoffs.

UBC Thunderbirds' scoring leader Jadon Cohee (left) welcomes back two healthy teammates Thursday as the playoffs begin at home to UFV: Point guard Mason Bourcier (right) and shooting guard Manroop Clair (not pictured). (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

UBC-UFV quarterfinals: ‘Birds bye week helps wounded guards Clair, Bourcier bring their best 60 minutes to War on Thursday

VANCOUVER — Like your favourite TV drama, Manroop Clair and Mason Bourcier are easily the equivalent of a solid hour’s worth of entertainment for UBC Thunderbirds’ men’s basketball fans.

Perseverance-plus from Simon Fraser junior guard Michael Provenzano has helped lead a turnaround in the fortune of the GNAC's 5-8 Clan. (Photo by Paul Yates property of Simon Fraser Clan athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)