Scheduled Game: CAL STATE FULLERTON

108

GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Cal State Fullerton 23 31 26 28 108 « FINAL Trinity Western 17 14 25 17 73

73

Game Recap

Men's Basketball (Non-conference)
Friday, August 29, 2008
TWU Spartans (73) vs. the Cal State Fullerton Titans (108)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS OPEN WITH MIDNIGHT MADNESS

LANGLEY, British Columbia - The debut of head coach Scott Allen and the Trinity Western University men's basketball team was looked forward to with such anticipation that the schedulers need two days to do the game justice. In a time slot fitting of NCAA Div I midnight madness the Spartans fell to the visiting Cal State Fullerton Titans 108-73 in a game that started after 10 p.m. on Aug. 29 and finished after midnight on Aug. 30 before a crowd of over 375 who were most likely up well past their normal bed time.

"Its great way to start, baptism by fire as it really open's our eyes as to where we are and what we need to do and where we need to go," commented Allan after the game. "We have a lot of talent. Building chemistry is going to be the challenge for our coaching staff. Our players need to trust each other and believe in each other [if we are to be successful]. When we actually worked to get the ball inside we were real successful today. There was a little bit of anxiousness and when we learn how to be calm and use our inside game and the rest of our tools properly we will look real good."

If the Spartans were to stay with the Titans tonight Trinity Western's main task was to shut down future NBA'er Josh Akongnon (Petaluma, Calif.). The 5-11 guard was a scheduled to forgo his senior season and enter the NBA, but he withdrew his name from the draft this past June and has returned to CSF for his final season. It was a task easier said then done as Akongnon racked up 38 points by the end of the third quarter to lead the Titans to the win.

The Spartans hung with the visitors for the first quarter, trailing 23-17, but a 31-14 second quarter run gave the Titans a 54-31 half time lead.

TWU matched CSF point-for-point in the third quarter with the Titans scoring 26 points to the Spartans 25 points. Cal State finished strong and outscored TWU 28-17 in the fourth to make the final a margin of 35 points.

In his Spartan debut Jacob Doerksen (3rd year, forward, Abbotsford, B.C.) led TWU with 26 points and seven rebounds. "Jacob is a luxury item to have on your team. He proves that when you bring your lunch box to work what you can do. He is a great talent on the perimeter and in the post," commented Allen on the 2006 CIS Rookie of the Year. Teammate Matt Myers (2nd year, guard, Tumwater, Wash.) followed up with 14 points on almost perfect shooting (3-4 fg, 3-3 ft).

In addition to Akognon's 38 points the Titans were led by Marcio Lassiter (San Francisco) with 14 points and rookie Ray Miller with 13 points.

The Titans' didn't take off from Los Angeles International Airport until after 5 p.m. and didn't land in Vancouver until about 8 p.m. After clearing immigration and getting their luggage and making a 50-minute drive to Langley, the game didn't begin until about 10 p.m. NCAA rules prohibit players from missing class time for international exhibitions, hence a scheduled 4:15 departure that was delayed by mechanical problems.

Next up for the Spartans is the University of Tulsa on Saturday, August 30, 2008. Game time at Walnut Grove Secondary in Walnut Grove, B.C. is set for 7 p.m.

Game Notes: TWU finished shooting 39% (25-64) from the field and 34.8% (8-23) from the 3 point line, while CSF finished shooting 43.9% (36-82) from the field and 36.4% (16-44) from the 3 point line...the Titans had the edge in rebounds 56-39 and in steals 13-5...

-TW-

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