Higgins, Goncin pace Canada in victory over Morocco at 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships

OTTAWA – Nik Goncin and Colling Higgins each scored 24 points to propel Canada’s men’s team to a decisive 74-51 victory over Morocco in the opening game for both countries Wednesday at the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.

The match had a similar storyline to Canada’s women’s victory over Spain earlier in the day.  The Canadian men’s team also had the jitters early on and led by only a point at the half.

But afterwards it was total dominance for Canada.  The Canadians outscored the Moroccans 21-4 in the third quarter to grab a comfortable 55-37 lead.

‘’The first half went predictable, some of the guys were tight with friends and family in the stands but overall, it was great first game,’’ said Goncin, a three-time Paralympian.

‘’In the second half we just stuck to the same plan but didn’t outdo ourselves. We know what our goals were and we just kept on the same path and did a better job.’’

Goncin was quick to point out it wasn’t necessarily the offence that picked up in the third.

‘’Defensively is where it primarily changed for us,’’ he said. ‘’We had trouble in the first half gaining back possession but in the third we caused some turnovers and ran away with it.’’

Reed De’Aeth added 12 points for Canada.

The Canadian men have an off day Thursday before facing Germany Friday at 12 p.m. (ET) at TD Place.  It’s a rematch of the bronze medal game at the 2024 Paralympic Games, won by the Germans 75-62.

In women’s play, Canada is back in action Thursday versus Australia at 2:30 p.m. at Carleton University.