Bears make buzzer beater for the win

Bears Make Buzzer Beater for the Victory

By Shannon Findlay

Top Performers:

U of A Golden Bears: Todd Bergen Henengouwen: 29 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

UBC Thunder Birds: Tommy Nixon: 13 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal

Edmonton, AB–Four seconds remaining. The game is tied 86-86. U of A’s Jordan Baker takes a desperate 10 foot jumper. The ball hits the outside of the rim and bounces out but doesn’t reach the ground as Todd Bergen-Henengouwen flies from the opposite side of the key to tip the ball in, breaking the tie 88-86.

The buzzer sounded as Golden Bear’s clinched the win against UBC Thunderbirds Saturday night in their home opener. Bergen-Henengouwen was all smiles after his winning put back.

“It felt good. I’m just glad I got a piece of it,” said Bergen-Henengouwen.

The game started slow for scoring with both teams playing tight, physical defense. Points picked up in the closing minutes of the first quarter with UBC pushing the inside shots as U of A answered with outside jumpers.

By the middle of the third quarter, it was looking like UBC might take the win as they pulled ahead 56-46. The team worked well together, with five of the Thunderbirds hitting double digits for scoring. UBC’s first year, Tommy Nixon, and fourth year, Graham Bath split high scorer with 13 a piece. However, U of A defense managed to hold Josh Whyte, last year’s CIS player of the year, to just 9 points.

UBC’s lead wouldn’t last though. U of A Coach Greg Francis says the Bears get motivated when they’re down on the scoreboard.

“Our goal for today’s game was to get better as the game went along and the team did that. They reacted. They react whenever we go down.”

Bergen-Henengouwen led the way for that reaction. The 6’5 sophomore took the floor by storm in the second half. Of his game high 29 points, 18 of them were made in the final 15 minutes. Golden Bear Daniel Ferguson also made significant contributions to the scoreboard dropping 24 points- 12 of them from the three point line.

The weekend action leaves U of A with a 3-1 record in Canada West and UBC at 4-2 this season. U of A’s one loss comes from Friday night’s game where they fell to UBC 76-81.