Scheduled Game: LETHBRIDGE*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Lethbridge Pronghorns 27 27 54 TWU Spartans 34 36 70 « FINAL

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Game Recap

Men's Basketball (Conference)
Saturday, February 08, 2003
TWU Spartans (70) vs. the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (54)

Plenty of Room on the Wagon...

Langley, British Columbia - It wasn't pretty, but it was the result TWU's men's basketball team wanted as they defeated the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns for the second night in a row, 70-54, in the final game of the regular season.

Unlike last night's sluggish start, tonight's game began at a breakneck pace with both teams racing up and down the floor. Lethbridge opened the scoring with a quick three, but didn't score again for four minutes, during which time TWU scored 14 unanswered points to race ahead with the early lead. The Spartans were all over the 'Horns, scoring seemingly without contest and swarming the opposition on defense to force them into bad decisions and turnovers. On one play, Lethbridge attempted to bring the ball up the floor after a missed TWU shot, but Brad Unger poked the ball away, leaving the loose ball rolling on the floor. An alert Ryan Jobs, on his way back up the court, scooped it up and completed the dunk to add two more points to the Spartan lead.

The first half was filled with end-to-end action and great hustle plays, the pace only slowing slightly after double personal fouls were assessed to Logan Kitteringham and Nick Baldwin after they fell to the floor in a tangle of legs. Tonight's officials called a tight game in an attempt to usurp any leftover emotion from last night's run-ins, a task that proved challenging in a contest that was just as physical as Friday's. Halftime came with the Spartans up 34-27, led by some outstanding play by Jobs, who led all scorers with 14 points (and 3 rebounds) in 16 minutes.

The Spartans did not come out in the second half with the same intensity as they had to start the first. Once again Lethbridge opened the scoring, this time punctuating it with an alley-oop dunk that brought their bench to their feet. TWU did not score until 18:15 when Dan Young hit a turnaround jumper. The Spartans did not get the same looks offensively as they did in the first with both teams buckling down defensively. However, Trinity Western was able to create offensive opportunities and knock down their shots, whereas Lethbridge could not convert their chances. Late in the half the Pronghorns attempted to double team Friesen every time he touched the ball, but he proved too quick for their guards, dribbling around and through them and passing it off despite their best efforts. Some tough defense by the top defensive team in Canada West produced more successful results, as TWU held Lethbridge's two best shooters (Ryan Reed and Alan Spoonhunter) to a combined 9-34 shooting (26.5%). In the end the Spartans just showed more grit and toughed out an "ugly" win.

Lethbridge's Alan Spoonhunter led all scorers with 24 points, while Friesen paced the Spartans with 21.

TWU hosts SFU next weekend-Thursday Feb. 13, Friday Feb. 14, and Saturday Feb. 15 (if necessary)-in a best-of-three series in the division semifinals. Games are at 7:00pm each night. Wear your BLUE and GOLD and come cheer your Spartans on to victory in the playoffs!

Game Notes: After taking a 3-0 lead to open the first half, Lethbridge trailed for the remainder of the game...graduating seniors Ryan Jobs and Brad Unger started the game tonight in their final regular season game as Spartans...Jobs finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal; Unger finished with 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal...TWU's stingy defense held Lethbridge to 27.9% shooting from the field...home court advantage could play a significant role in next weekend's games, with TWU having an 11-2 overall record at home...

-TW-

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