Scheduled Game: CALGARY*

82

GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Calgary Dinos 38 44 82 « FINAL TWU Spartans 33 34 67

67

Game Recap

Men's Basketball (Conference game)
Friday, November 14, 2003
TWU Spartans (67) vs. the University of Calgary Dinos (82)

Dinos Spoil Opener

Langley, British Columbia - Tonight the Spartan men's basketball team hosted the #3 Calgary Dinos in their regular season home opener, and although TWU hung with the visitors most of the way, the Dinos came on too strong down the stretch and took the game 82-67.

The first half was a combination of a defensive battle and some poor shooting, the result being a very low-scoring first 20 minutes. The Dinos took a seven-point lead into the break, ahead 39-32. Both teams played physical, aggressive defense, and the difference in the score was mainly due to Calgary converting their offensive chances, while the net seemed to have a lid on it for the Spartans. Calgary shot a decent 46.4% from the field, and a sizzling 63.6% from beyond the arc, while Trinity Western was hitting 38.2% from the field and only 11.1% from three-point land.

Calgary opened a 5-0 lead in the first half before the Spartans scored their first two points off a David Martens layup two and a half minutes in, and then tied it up at five points with a three by Dan Young. Several times in the half both teams went for two and even three minute stretches without scoring a basket, but it was the Dinos' three-point shooting that allowed them to maintain their lead going into the break. At the half, Calgary's Whit Hornsberger, Rick Brar, and Aman Heran each had two threes, while TWU's Dan Young and Adam Friesen led their team with nine and eight points, respectively.

Again in the second half it was Calgary that opened the scoring, as the Dinos' speedy John Riad dropped the first two once more. After TWU's Young scored two to answer Riad, it was almost four minutes before the Spartans scored again. In that span of time the Dinos expanded their lead to 16, going on a 10-0 run that gave them an insurmountable lead despite Trinity Western's answering 10-4 run that brought them within nine.

A three by Adam Friesen with 9:35 left gave the Spartans some life down the stretch and the Faithful something to cheer about, cutting the Dino lead to only six. Unfortunately the Spartans couldn't take advantage of a four-minute dry spell for the Dinos, scoring only four points themselves during that stretch. Once they found their scoring touch again, Calgary took control of the game, scoring 20 points (nine on free throws) in the last six minutes to TWU's seven.

John Riad and Chris Wright combined to score 30 of Calgary's 43 points in the second half, finishing with 22 and 13, respectively, with all of Wright's points coming after halftime.

Adam Friesen led the Spartans with 21 points, as well as six boards, while Husky Energy Spartan of the Game Dan Young recorded another double-double with 16 points (53.8% from the floor) and 14 boards.

"Tonight's result was not an effort thing," said Coach Stan Peters. "It's the first five minutes of the second half that kills us, and it's happened several times this season, so right now we'll just keep plugging away. On a positive note, I'm happy with the play of our posts without Logan on the floor. Dan [Young] was unbelievable, and Andy [VanderMeulen] and David [Bron] both played solid minutes. Tomorrow is a very important game for us and we need to take care of business."

Tomorrow night the Spartans host the University of Lethbridge at 8:00pm, immediately following the women's game at 6:00pm.

Game Notes: Friesen tied for second in the school record books for most three-pointers attempted, with 12, unfortunately making only three of those...Calgary doubled TWU's assists 20-10...Logan Kitteringham is out for a few weeks with a broken bone in his hand...

-TW-

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