April 1, 2011 - Shooting hoops with Rick Mercer can now be added to the long list of season highlights for the University of Northern British Columbia basketball squads.

The Mercer Report hosts suited up with the Northern Timberwolves during a recent visit to UNBC campus in Prince George, B.C.

"It was a fun opportunity for the athletes," said UNBC athletics director Jason Kerswill, “and great for UNBC.”

Mercer’s visit was in recognition of the school’s fundraising efforts on behalf of Spread the Net, a charity which purchases mosquito nets to prevent malaria deaths in Africa. UNBC raised $18,710, surpassing the fundraising efforts of all other colleges and universities in Canada.

UNBC basketball played a supporting role in the charitable campaign, raising money and awareness during their popular home games. The teams’ fans have had a lot to cheer about this season; the women’s team took home bronze at the BCCAA provincials and the men won silver, going on to tie for fifth place at the CCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at Durham College.

Mercer interviewed 2011 CCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Year Inderbir Gill and challenged the squad to raise yet more money for Spread the Net; athletes had two minutes to shoot as many 3-pointers as possible and Mercer would donate a mosquito net for each basket. The players complied, resulting in 92 more nets donated to a good cause. The episode aired March 29.

Visit http://www.spreadthenet.org/ to donate.

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