EDMONTON - Jalen Shirley hit three three-pointers in the final three minutes to lead the UBCO Heat to a stunning 69-68 comeback victory over the Alberta Golden Bears Friday night at the Saville Centre.

The Bears led for almost 36 minutes—or 90% of the game—but Shirley and the Heat refused to back down, breaking through in the final moments to stun an Alberta squad buoyed by a Herculean effort from third-year Isaac Simon. Simon, the league's fifth-leading scorer, put up a game-high 30 points and continues to shoulder the offensive load for this Bears team. Simon scored 44% of Alberta's points in the loss, finishing with a 5-for-9 mark from beyond the arc and seven rebounds. The Bears have now lost six straight and fall to 3-8 on the year.

The story of the game, however, was Shirley and the Heat's heroics late in the contest. His nine points in crunch time were instrumental for a UBCO squad that, despite trailing most of the game, never faltered. Alberta's largest lead was 11 points in the second quarter, but Shirley's clutch shooting flipped the script with just minutes to go in the fourth. He finished with a team-high 17 points, and was flanked by Jeffrey Tazo, Lamine Conde, and Leon Schenker, who all scored in double digits. This marked the Heat's first-ever win over the Golden Bears in program history, improving their record to 4-7.

Alberta got off to a lightning-fast start, making their first five shots en route to an early 12-4 lead midway through the opening quarter. Simon contributed five points during the run, but UBCO regrouped defensively to outscore the Bears 9-6 to close the frame, heading into the second quarter down just 18-13.

The Heat carried their momentum into the second quarter, with Lamine Conde and Gavin Ashworth combining for 11 points to pull UBCO within striking distance. At one point mid-quarter they held a 33-30 lead, however, late first-half heroics from Simon helped Alberta regain the edge, heading into halftime up 39-34. Simon led all scorers with a blistering 18 first-half points, while UBCO relied on a depth effort, with six players contributing multiple buckets.

The Bears' offense reignited to start the third, with key contributions from Fahad Yusuf and Caiden Kushnir helping extend their lead. Yet, the Heat hung around, hitting two consecutive three-pointers late in the frame to cut Alberta's advantage to 56-49 heading into the fourth.

The Heat, propelled by a red-hot Jeffrey Tazo, refused to quit as Alberta's lead hovered around five points for most of the final quarter. But Tazo wasn't alone in carrying the water for the UBCO offence as Shirley stepped up in monumental fashion, hitting a three-pointer with 2:30 remaining to pull UBCO within three. Following a sensational block by Conde on a driving Simon, Shirley drained another three to tie the game at 66 with a minute and a half left.

Simon came through once again on the next Bears possession, driving to the right and sinking a tough contested layup with 40 seconds left to give the Bears a two-point lead. However, Shirley delivered his Kodak moment on the next possession, sinking a fading three-pointer to give UBCO their first lead since the first half with 24 seconds remaining. The Heat's defense then locked down the Bears on two straight possessions to complete a wild 69-68 comeback victory in Edmonton.

The teams will return to action at the Saville Centre tomorrow evening in what promises to be a popcorn-worthy sequel.