Scheduled Game: THOMPSON RIVERS*

95

GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Thompson Rivers 43 52 95 Trinity Western 57 51 108 « FINAL

108

Game Recap

Men’s Basketball (Canada West)
Friday, November 17, 2006
TWU (108) TRU (95)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWU TRANSITION SCORES WIN OVER TRU
Luke Robinson leads Spartans to victory over Wolf Pack

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Luke Robinson (4th year, Ahousat, B.C.) made eight of his nine shots against the Thompson Rivers University (0-7) Friday night as the Trinity Western University Spartans (3-4) defeated the visiting Wolf Pack 108-95.  Robinson finished with 20 points while the Spartans’ leading scorer this season, Brian Banman (4th year, Kelowna, B.C.) chipped in with 19 points. 

“I thought Luke Robinson played really well.  I thought he passed smart, finished, just played a very smart game,” commented TWU Head Coach Stan Peters.  “We’re still missing Drew Slaght in our rotation, and we’re getting David Bron back from injury, but I thought a couple guys played really well for us [Robinson being one].  I thought Lance, last weekend seized an opportunity to get more minutes and he capitalized again on that today.  I thought those two guys really played well for us.”

The 6’8 forward, Lance Verhoeff (1st year, Calgary, A.B.), shot 7-7 to score a career best 14 points, accompanied by three steals and three rebounds.

The Spartans forced a significant number of turnovers at 38.  “We have to,” commented Peters, “The one thing we have to do a better job on is capitalizing on those turnovers.”  The team showed, in spurts, their ability to score in transition or off forced turnovers in TRU’s backcourt.

The Wolf Pack ironically seemed to be feeding a hungry Spartan defense that converted for 42 points in transition on the night.  “We have to win these types of games; they are critical for us to win, and tonight we took care of that.  I look forward to tomorrow,” said Peters of his team’s showing.

The Spartans made an early first-half run on the Wolf Pack that ended with a Taylor Armstrong (4th year, Big Stone, A.B.) three-pointer to cap a 16-6 run, resulting in a 30-15 lead.  Thompson Rivers responded with a 19-5 run of their own, where forward Kamar Burke (Mississauga, O.N.) elevated in the paint and threw down a sure two points.

TWU found their shooting touch before half, increasing their lead from seven to 14 in the final 3:37 of the half.  Trevor Nerdahl (3rd year, Caronport, S.K.) led the Spartans with 12 points at the break, all coming from behind the arc (4 for 8).  Nerdahl scored 16 in the game.

Luke Robinson started the Spartans off on a four point run with two breakaway lay-ups forced turnovers, and capped it off with a three to make the spread 68-43.  As the Wolf Pack used their second time-out in the half after only two minutes of play, momentum continued at the backs of the Spartans, pushing them to their largest lead of the game (68-43).

Down the stretch TRU continued to press to get back in the game. The Wolf Pack made a significant dent into the TWU lead and with two minutes remaining had cut the Spartans margine to 10 points, 99-89. But that was as close as they would get in the second half.

Thompson Rivers shot 56.6% from the field as a team behind the team-high 21 scored by guard Charlie Spurr (Victoria, B.C.) on 7-13 shooting.  Kamar Burke was just two rebounds and two assists shy of a triple-double (finishing with10 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists).

The TWU men’s basketball team squares off against TRU for a second straight night Saturday, November 18, 2006 at 8:00 pm at the David E. Enarson Gymnasium.

Game Notes: Turnovers: TWU (16) TRU (38)...Points off turnovers TWU (42) TRU (11)...Bench Points TWU (37) TRU (23)...Points in the Paint TWU (38) TRU (32)...

- TW -

- Jay Duke, TWU Sports Information Assistant

Play-by-Play

Photo Gallery