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Canwest News Service

The CIS' No. 2-ranked UBC Thunderbirds have some crosstown company over the early stages of the Canada West men's basketball season.

On Friday, while the 'Birds were improving to a perfect 5-0 on the new season with an 84-68 win over the host Thompson Rivers WolfPack in Kamloops, the under-rated Simon Fraser Clan were doing likewise, pushing their mark to 4-0 with a

73-58 victory over the host Fraser Valley Cascades.

Meanwhile, the No. 10-ranked Trinity Western Spartans were upset 62-59 by the visiting Victoria Vikes in their first-ever league game at the $53-million Langley Events Centre.

A look at the three games:

– At Kamloops: After surviving an 84-81 nail-biter in the series opener Thursday, the Thunderbirds had four players reach double-figures in scoring in their 16-point win on Friday.

"We changed our lineup from the night before," said UBC head coach Kevin Hanson. "I thought our energy was a bit better tonight. I was more pleased with what I saw. I thought TRU came out and had a lot of fight in them for a team which, for lack of a better word, was devastated after last night's result."

Josh Whyte led UBC with 20 points, while Mel Mayott came off the bench to supply 16 points. Kyle Watson had 15 points in the win and Nathan Yu tallied 11. Sean Garvey had 28 for the Pack.

– At Abbotsford: Clan point Sean Burke scored a game-high 23 points while teammates Matt Kuzminski and Kevin Shaw each scored 12 as SFU took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter. Defence, however, was what most pleased Clan head coach Scott Clark.

"Your offensive output can vary from night to night," said Clark, "but defence is an area that we can control by putting consistent effort on the floor, and I thought that type of effort tonight was good to see."

– At Langley: Ryan MacKinnon scored 10 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, as Victoria (3-1) spoiled the Spartans' bid for victory in its home opener by winning for the third straight time.

Jacob Doerksen, the former Vikes star and the reigning CIS Player of the Year, scored a game-high 24 points in defeat. TWU led the game 52-51 with four minutes remaining.

In women's play on Friday:

No. 10-ranked UBC (4-2) got 18 points in 23 minutes from Lia St. Pierre in a 68-62 win over Trinity Western.

– Carmen Lapthorne scored 21 points to lead Victoria to a 68-62 comeback win over Trinity Western.

htsumura@theprovince.com

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