Scheduled Game: @Manitoba*

109

GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Trinity Western 32 27 29 21 109 « FINAL Manitoba 23 23 19 30 95

95

Game Recap

Men's Basketball (Canada West)
Friday, February 06, 2009
TWU Spartans (109) at the University of Manitoba Bisons (95)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS RUN PAST BISONS
-Record setting night for TWU

WINNIPEG - The Trinity Western University men's basketball team set a school scoring record in their 109-95 win over the University of Manitoba Bisons Friday night win Winnipeg. The Spartans 109 points are the most points scored by a TWU team in regulation and trail's only the 128, which they hit in a 130-128 triple overtime loss to UBC Oct. 27, 2006.

Led by forward Jacob Doerken's (Abbotsford, B.C.) 28 points and seven assists in 26 minutes the Spartans also set a record for team assists with 35. Bettering the previous mark of 27 which was set Jan. 30, 2004 in a 96-78 loss to Alberta.

The loss officially puts the Bisons (4-17) out of a playoff spot, while the win moves the Spartans (16-6) magic number for hosting the opening round of the Pacific Division play-offs to one. A TWU win or a Victoria loss in tomorrow's final conference games will mean that the Vikes will travel to Langley, B.C. to face the Spartans.

The Bisons kept pace with the Spartans early as both teams hit shots from all over the court. But Manitoba couldn't stay with Trinity Western the rest of the way and had no answer Doerksen.

"We had a really strong scouting report coming into the game," said Spartan head coach Scott Allen. "Our plan was to push Nathan Dixon to his left and we were trying to get an advantage wherever we could. We ran a lot of set plays for Jacob - a lot of double screens and single screens trying to get him open. But he creates a lot too and he's not selfish."

The first quarter was up-tempo and featured few fouls and a barrage of baskets as the teams took a combined total of 62 shots. Both teams shot over 50 per cent from behind the arc, but Trinity Western got the best of the Bisons in the frame taking a 32-23 lead into the second quarter.

The pace seemed to slow in the second as the teams started turning the ball over and missing shots, but the Spartans managed to build on their lead taking a 59-46 advantage into halftime.

After shooting at a 47 per cent clip on their field goals in the first quarter, the Herd's shooting percentage dropped dramatically to 29 per cent in the second. Their three-pointers dried up too as they went 0 for 12 from beyond the arc. Trinity Western meanwhile was still dropping over half their shots.

Doerksen dominated the first half for the Spartans pouring in 22 points and dishing out seven assists.

The third quarter saw an early dunk by Spartan forward Jamie Vaughan (Chilliwack, B.C.) set the tone for the period. Trinity Western extended their lead to 23 points and held the game well in hand going into the final frame leading 88-65.

But Manitoba didn't fold in the fourth quarter and cut a 20-point Spartan lead down to 10 with just over two minutes to play. A three-pointer by Manitoba guard Dixon straight out of a Bison timeout cut the Spartan lead to seven, but Vaughn answered with his second slam of the night on the next play. While the Herd made a game of it, they couldn't close the gap eventually losing 109-95.

Vaughan also contributed to the Spartans cause with 23 points and a team high eight rebounds, while Dixon finished with a team-high 25 points for the Bisons in the loss.

Tomorrow the Spartans will travel across town to face the University of Winnipeg Wesmen to close out Canada West conference play, while Bisons will host Simon Fraser.

Game Notes: TWU shot the lights out finishing at 57 percent (41-72) from the field and 50 percent (12-24) from the three point line, while Manitoba shot 37 percent (32-85) and 33 percent (15-45) respectively...the Spartans out-rebounded the Bisons 34-28...the game had 11 players hit double digits in scoring - six for TWU, five for Manitoba...

-TW-
-contributions from Manitoba Sports Information

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