Scheduled Game: MANITOBA*

89

GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Manitoba 21 23 23 22 89 Trinity Western 35 21 25 16 97 « FINAL

97

Game Recap

MENS BASKETBALL (CANADA WEST)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010
TWU SPARTANS (97) VS THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS (89)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS HOLD ON IN WIRE TO WIRE WIN

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western University men’s basketball led from start to finish, but were forced to hold off a hard charging University of Manitoba Bisons to earn the 97-89 win Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The win improves the Spartans to 7-5, while the loss drops the Bisons to 4-10.

The Spartans, who were led by forward Jacob Doerksen of Abbotsford, B.C. with 28 points and 10 rebounds, opened up a 35-21 first quarter lead, but saw it cut to five points in the third quarter. The Bisons’ charge was initiated by a three point shooting barrage led by guard Nathan Dixon of Saskatoon who finished with five three point baskets and 27 points and forward Sean Maxwell of St. Paul who finished with six three point baskets and 20 points. TWU guard Louis Hurd of Spokane, Wash. helped the Spartans hold on by adding 20 points on with five three point baskets.

TWU was on fire to start. Two minutes into the game they had a nine point lead, 11-2, and before Manitoba knew what happened ten minutes were gone and they were trailing by 14 points, 35-21. The Spartans kept going in the second quarter and with five minutes to go had extended their lead to 20 points, 49-29. With the large lead, TWU subbed in a number of bench players, which resulted in their margin decreasing to 12 points, 56-44, at the half.

Manitoba took the energy that they had developed at the end of the first half and used it to start the second half. After a nine to two run and just two minutes into the second half, what once was a blowout game, was not a five point game, 60-55 with almost a full half of basketball left to play.

The Spartans settled and used an eight to one run to build their lead back to 12 points, 68-56 with five minutes to go in the quarter. Manitoba did not falter and once again cut the lead back to five points, 70-65 with just over two minutes remaining. The Spartans finished the third quarter crashing the boards and getting to the free throw line (6-7 from the line), which resulted in a 14 point lead, 81-67, going into the fourth quarter.

The final quarter was a near repeat of the third quarter. The Bisons started strong again and used four three point baskets to once again cut the Spartan lead to five points, 87-82, with five minutes remaining in the game.  Again TWU stretched the lead back to double digits, 94-84, with a seven to two run with just over two and a half minutes remaining. Manitoba hit five straight points to again make it a five point game, 84-89 with one and a half minutes to go. It was as close as the Bisons would get as the Spartans hit three of four free throws to earn the 12 point victory.

Next up for the Spartans is the University of Winnipeg tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre, while the Bisons will head to Burnaby Mountain to take on Simon Fraser University.

Game Notes: TWU shot 43.7 percent (38-87) from the field, 34.8 percent (8-23) from the three point line and 59.1 percent (13-22) from the foul line, while Manitoba shot 46.9 percent (30-64), 42.9 percent (15-35) and 58.3 percent (14-24) respectively…the Spartans out rebounded the Bisons 55 to 37…the game was broadcast live on SpartanTV at gospartans.ca…

-TW-

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