EDMONTON - The dynamic duo of Adam Paige and Abdullah Shittu were too much to handle for the visiting UBCO Heat, as pair of veteran forwards combined for 36 points in a 89-71 Golden Bears win on Friday night. 

The forwards also combined for 19 rebounds and one block, as the Bears opened the New Year with their fifth conference win (5-4). Along with 18 each from Paige and Shittu, the Bears also had 17 from Brandon Meiklejohn and 11 from Logan Powel. 

The Heat, who fall to 4-7, were led by 20 points from Jalen Shirley, also getting 10 points from Gus Goerzen. 

While neither team shot particularly well, the Bears were boosted by 10 three-pointers on 25 attempts, compared to just six makes on 32 attempts from the Heat. 

Shittu came out strong in the opening quarter, dropping nine points on 4/5 shooting, adding three rebounds as the Bears took a 24-20 lead through 10. The only thing keeping the Heat in the game early was their deep shooting, as they finished the first making four of their seven attempts. 

That shooting completely dried up from that point on, with the Heat making just two of their next 25 attempts from beyond the arc. Alberta took full control, outscoring the Heat 28-14 in the second, and never looked back. By comparison, the Bears were 6/10 from deep through 20 minutes. 

Alberta's defensive effort also turned up a notch in the second half, holding the Heat to a 27% make percentage in the third and fourth quarters, and finishing the second half with a 31-17 edge in rebounds. 

The two squads will meet again tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. at Saville Centre.