PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The Timberwolves took the first of two games against the Grande Prairie Wolves on Saturday night. UNBC defeated Grande Prairie 87-58 in their first preseason home game of the 2013-2014 season.

In their first home preseason game, the Timberwolves hosted familiar rivals, the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves. The Wolves have made numerous trips to Prince George for preseason competition. Grande Prairie will play a double header against the Timberwolves before heading back home on Sunday afternoon.

For the Timberwolves this was another chance to work out the kinks in their system. After a 0-3 result in Alberta last weekend the men have continued to figure out how their new team will perform this season with a multitude of new faces. The addition of two Langara College transfers and two international players have changed the dynamic of the Timberwolves squad. They not only have the ability to shoot from the perimeter but Franck Kouagnia (Yaounde, Cameroon) and Devin McMurtry (Surrey, BC) have added the size inside that the Timberwolves were missing last year. Kouagnia and McMurtry are both in their fourth year and have been working in tandem with fifth year Charles Barton (Vernon, BC).

Timberwolves fans would recognize a familiar face on the Grande Prairie bench as Josh Raphael made his return to the Northern Sport Centre. Raphael is the younger brother of Timberwolves graduate Sam Raphael, and a local Prince George player. Raphael was a member of the Timberwolves squad for two years before deciding to transfer to Grande Prairie after last season. Raphael opened up the game by taking the ball to the basket and drawing the foul. The next possession saw Raphael come down the floor and drain a three.

The Timberwolves head coach Todd Jordan distributed playing time, getting everyone time on the floor. New face to the Timberwolves Mitchell Howden (Abbotsford, BC) impressed with his confidence under the basket. Howden nabbed seven boards and four points during his 16 minutes of play. Kouagnia has not disappointed, the 6’7 power forward who transferred to UNBC from Coventry University in England is a force from the low block. Kouagnia finished the game with 18 points and nine rebounds; as well as five assists, two steals, and one block.

The Timberwolves will play their second of two against the Grande Prairie Wolves on Sunday, October 13. Tip off is set for 1 p.m. at the Northern Sport Centre.