Scheduled Game: THOMPSON RIVERS*

96

GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Thompson Rivers 17 25 21 33 96 Trinity Western 24 33 27 18 102 « FINAL

102

Game Recap

Men's Basketball (Canada West)
Saturday, January 12, 2008
TWU Spartans (102) vs. TRU Wolfpack (96)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS HANG ON FOR VICTORY OVER WOLFPACK

LANGLEY, British Columbia - It's a good thing for Trinity Western University that Canada West basketball games aren't longer than 40 minutes, because if they were the Spartans might not have notched their sixth win of the season. The Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack, who trailed by 21 points to start the fourth quarter, cut the deficit to just six points with 12 seconds left, but ran out of time as the Spartans hung on to win 102-96 at TWU's David E. Enarson Gymnasium.

"They upped their intensity in the fourth quarter, and as a young team we had to learn that when the other team ups their intensity, we have to do the same," said TWU head coach Pat Lee. "Luke Robinson and Jason Keegstra stepped up when it counted and made some great shots, and I was confident we'd hang onto win."

TWU guard Luke Robinson (Ahousat, B.C.) led his team in scoring for the second consecutive game with 22 points, two rebounds, five assists and three steals. Also for the second straight night an opposing player had a monster game, as TRU guard Kamar Burke (Mississauga, Ont.) had 36 points, including 15 of 19 from the free throw line, and also grabbed 11 rebounds with five assists and two steals.

The Spartans led 24-17 after one quarter, and then caught fire by scoring 33 second quarter points to lead 57-42 at the half. Freshman guard Jon Loewen (Abbotsford, B.C.) hit three of his four first half threes in the quarter, and had 13 of his 16 points in the first half. The only concern for TWU at that point was the 15 fouls they had picked up. Burke, who sat most of the first quarter because of foul trouble, had 14 of his team's 25 second quarter points. The points continued to pile up for TWU as they outscored TRU 27-21 to lead 84-63 at the end of three quarters, and the game looked to be all but over.

But it was far from it. The Spartans didn't get their first points until the 6:26 mark of the fourth, and in that time the Wolfpack started hitting shots and drawing fouls, and trailed 86-71. The first half fouls caught up to the Spartans as three starters, including Loewen, had fouled out by midway through the fourth. The Wolfpack continued drawing fouls and hitting free throws, and were down 102-91 with just 36 seconds left.

Then TRU guard Drew Bleth (Ridgefield, Wash.), who finished with 15 points, missed a three point attempt but was fouled on the release which gave him three free throw attempts with 17 seconds remaining. He hit the first two free throws and missed the third, but Burke pounced on the rebound, kicked it back out to Bleth, and he buried a three to cut the Spartan lead to just six with 12 seconds left. Robinson then attempted a length of the court inbounds pass for to a wide open Lance Verhoeff (Calgary) to seal the game, but the pass hit a divider curtain at midcourt in the "Enarson's" low roof, turning the ball over and giving the Wolfpack possession. Bleth missed a contested three, the Spartans grabbed the board, and escaped with a six point win.

Verhoeff finished with 19 points, twelve rebounds, and three blocks for the Spartans, while Brian Smith (Maple Ridge, B.C.) tallied 21 points and seven boards for the Wolfpack. The win moves the Spartans to 6-10, and keeps them in the hunt for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Pacific division. Their next game will be on the road Friday, January 18, 2008 at 8 p.m. in Saskatoon against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The loss drops the Wolfpack to 2-14 as they return home for their next game Friday, January 18, 2008 at 8 p.m. in Kamloops against the University of Manitoba Bisons.

Game Notes- Robinson totaled 53 points in the two games this weekend vs. TRU and UCFV while Burke tallied 54 in his two games vs. SFU and the Spartans...The Spartans made 20 three pointers and shot 54% from behind the arc this weekend...The game was broadcast live on gospartans.ca.

-TW-

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