TRU President Airini presents the men's President's Cup to Steve Stinson on Jan. 9, 2026. (Image Credit: Archie Golding/LeftRight Media via TRU WolfPack)

By Victor Kaisar

Canada West Basketball

WolfPack men win President’s Cup following basketball win over UBCO Heat

Jan 10, 2026 | 9:54 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson Rivers (TRU) WolfPack men have won another President’s Cup against the UBC Okanagan Heat.

The WolfPack clinched silverware against their closest geographic rival after the men’s basketball team won Friday’s (Jan. 9) contest 95-72 at the Tournament Capital Centre. The President’s Cup is awarded each year to the school with the best head-to-head record in basketball, volleyball, and soccer.

Friday’s win means that the TRU men have an unassailable 4-2 lead over UBCO, with one basketball game left to play. The TRU men’s soccer team won both games last summer while the UBCO men won both volleyball games. TRU also won the first men’s basketball game of the season in October.

It’s the third-straight Presidents’ Cup in for the TRU men, and they’ve won 17 of the 23 editions of the trophy.

At the TCC Friday, Jayden Stephens led the way for the WolfPack as he finished with 20 points and four steals. Steve Stinson added 15 points and five assists while Dami Farinloye added another 13 points.

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While UBCO came out firing in the first quarter and led 20-9, it was all WolfPack the rest of the way as TRU led 27-26 after one quarter, and 52-43 at the half. The Wolfpack extended their lead to 17 points midway through the third quarter, and pulled away in the fourth to pick up their ninth win of the season.

The 9-4 WolfPack are third in the Canada West Pacific Division, while the 3-10 Heat are in sixth place.

Also last night, the WolfPack women’s basketball team came up short as they dropped an 85-41 decision to Heat at the TCC. The Heat led 45-23 at halftime and they pulled away in the final two quarters to improve to 7-6.

Two Kamloopsians – Kiana Kaczur (11) and Temi Aina (10) – were among the six UBCO players who hit double-digits in scoring.

Olena Vasylenko led the way with eight points for the 5-8 WolfPack as Kamloopsian Morgan Eichenberger added seven points and seven rebounds.

The WolfPack and Heat will be back in action at the TCC this evening, with the women set to tip off at 4:00 p.m. followed by the men at 6:00 p.m.

The women’s President’s Cup will be handed out this evening, and its the Heat who are in the lead at 3-2-1. The TRU women have won both volleyball games this season, while UBCO has won both basketball games and one soccer game.

The other women’s soccer game ended in a 0-0 tie.