Game Recap

Men’s Basketball (Conference)
Saturday, November 4, 2006
TWU (85) Brandon (84)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS AND BOBCATS GO DOWN TO THE WIRE
TWU’s Jon Schmidt and David Bron come up big in crunch-time

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western University Men’s Basketball team (2-2) immerged victorious in an 85-84 nail-biter against the Brandon University Bobcats (1-1) thanks to a last second block by forward David Bron (5th year, Surrey, B.C.). As a result of TWU pressure, the Bobcats struggled through the final possessions, committing four consecutive turnovers, leaving room for Spartan guard Jon Schmidt (4th year, Rosedale, B.C.) to score six straight big-time points as part of his team-high 18.

“We wouldn’t let them get into their set – that’s where the turnovers came from,” said TWU Head Coach Stan Peters about those crucial four possessions down the stretch. “They were trying to run a play, but we said we were not going to let them, we were going to make them beat us by playing.”

With regard to Schmidt’s performance, Peters was impressed, “We need guys stepping up and carrying the load, and Jon did a great job of that tonight.”

The Spartans had been running the Bobcats’ guards all night to prevent the Bobcats setting up inside with forward Yuri Whyms (Fernley, N.V.). Whyms scored 6 points in the game and gathered 10 rebounds. The Bobcats can get up and down the court as fast if not faster than the Spartans, and guard Danny Charlery (Montreal, Que.) proved to be quite elusive, scoring 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting, including a three with 8 seconds left in the game to put the Bobcats back within one. David Yul Michel (Montreal, Que.) contributed another 20 points for the Bobcats, 12 from the free throw line.

“People are finding out that what we do, that the strength of our team, is wearing down the other team’s ball-handlers,” commented Coach Peters. “We talk about three things that we have to have for performance: mind, body, and heart. And I thought down the stretch we showed huge heart, and we executed.”

With 2:37 remaining in the second half, Brandon led 79-73 after five consecutive points by Dany Charlery, leaving the Spartans requiring an answer. Spartan guard Jon Schmidt was able to slice into the paint for a lay-up, and then another on a fast break pass from Luke Robinson (4th year, Ahousat, B.C.). Moments later, Schmidt came up with a steal and a lay-up to tie the game 79-79 with 1:41 left on the clock.

Spartans forced a third consecutive Bobcat turnover with an over and back call. Schmidt with another lay-up attempt, this time fouled, cashed in two free throws for an 81-79 lead. With 38 seconds left in the game, Brandon, facing a 4-point deficit courtesy a lay-up by David Bron (5th year, Surrey, B.C.) assisted by Schmidt, calls time-out.

Brandon guard Nathan Grant (Montreal, Que.) hits two free-throws to tie, and the Bobcats immediately foul to stop the clock, sending Brian Banman (4th year, Kelowna) to the line. After Banman made both to get the lead back to 4, Brandon’s Charlery banked a deep three to cut the lead to 85-84. With 7 seconds on the clock, Schmidt missed two free-throws.

On the ensuing break, the Bobcats sent a cross-court pass to Chad Jacobson (Brandon, M.B.) near the basket for what looked like would be the game winning play. Recovering quickly enough was Spartan forward David Bron for the block. Jacobson recovered the ball, but his shot attempt was waived off as the ball left his hand after the buzzer had sounded.

Statistically, the Bobcats shot significantly higher percentage at 52.7%, while the Spartans were at 41.2%. TWU made up the difference with their trapping defense that forced critical turnovers, as well as a solid team effort on the offensive glass, reeling in 16 compared to the Bobcats’ 12.

Trinity Western University is on the road to play the University of Lethbridge on Friday, November 10, 2006 at 8:15 pm and at the University of Calgary on Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 8:00 pm.

Game Notes: TWU’s Jon Schmidt and Luke Robinson each finished with a game-high 4 steals...TWU’s Brian Banman led the team with 4 offensive rebounds...Turnovers: Brandon 22 TWU 17...

- Jay Duke
- TWU -