Scheduled Game: @Fraser Valley*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Trinity Western University 19 17 22 23 81 « FINAL UCFV 9 17 26 24 76

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Game Recap

Men's Basketball (Canada West)
Saturday, December 1, 2007
TWU Spartans (81) at UCFV Cascades (76)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ROBINSON LEADS SPARTANS PAST CASCADES

Abbotsford, British Columbia - Three pointers, mid-range jumpers, tough drives, and clutch free throws: these were just some of the ways Trinity Western Spartans guard Luke Robinson (Ahousat, B.C.) scored 28 points to lead his team to a 81-76 victory over the UCFV Cascades at the Envision Athletic Centre Saturday night. Robinson made four three-pointers and 10 free throws, and also collected seven rebounds. The fifth year guard, who is TWU's second leading scorer on the season, had 21 of his 28 points in the second half.

The first half was fast paced with few fouls and few points. TWU led 19-9 after the first period, and 36-26 at the half. There were only 12 fouls called the entire half, and the Spartans forced the Cascades into 12 turnovers.

UCFV switched strategies for the second half, driving aggressively to the basket and getting to the free throw line. It resulted in an 8-1 run to start the third quarter, with six of the eight points coming on free throws. That trimmed the Spartans lead to 37-34 just two minutes into the third. TWU responded by outscoring UCFV 21-9 in the next six minutes to lead 58-43 with 2:11 left. Robinson nailed three point baskets to begin and end the run. The Cascades countered with nine straight points to close the quarter, and trailed by just six 58-52. UCFV's 26 points in the third quarter equaled their output for the entire first half.

The fourth quarter was a slugfest with 24 fouls committed, and the refs could not have doled them out more evenly. Both teams were called for 12 fouls, and each shot 15-18 from the free throw line in the final quarter. Robinson scored six of the Spartans next 14 points, and TWU looked to have the game in hand leading 72-59 with 2:59 to go. But the relentless Cascades kept driving to the basket, and it paid off. UCFV made 10 of 11 free throws in the next two minutes, outscoring TWU 14-4, and trailed 76-73 on two Tristan Smith (Gardena, Calif.) free throws with 42 seconds remaining.

Spartan guard Daniel Demian (Coquitlam, B.C.) then converted two free throws at the other end after beating the Cascade press, but UCFV countered with an old-fashioned three-point play from Joel Haviland (Abbotsford, B.C.), who drove left from the top of the key and made a tough layup while being fouled. The free throw made the score 78-76 Spartans with 35 seconds left. Robinson stepped up again when his team needed him, beating the press, drawing a foul, and calmly draining both free throws to give his team a four point lead. Demian would hit one last free throw and the Spartans hung on to win by five.

Two other Spartans scored in double figures: post Joe Vroom (Abbotsford, B.C.) had 13 points and four rebounds, and Demian finished with 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists. The Cascades were led by fifth year guard Lee Jackson (Olympia, Wash.) with 17 points and four rebounds, and Smith finished with 16 points, including 7-8 on free throws, three rebounds, four assists and one steal.

The victory moves the Spartans to 4-8 in the Canada West's Pacific division, two points behind the Cascades, who are 5-7 after the loss. TWU's next game is an exhibition match at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. on December 17th. Their next Canada West conference game is January 4th, 2008 at home against the University of Victoria Vikes. UCFV is off for more than a month, with their next game being at the Brandon University Bobcats Friday, January 4th, 2008.

Game notes- Tonight was the fourth time Robinson has scored at least 25 points in a game...Jackson, who came in averaging 13.5 points a game, averaged 22.5 in the two contests against the Spartans this weekend...The game was broadcast live at GoSpartans.ca.

-TW-
-Jeff Kilpatrick TWU Sports Information.

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