Scheduled Game: @British Columbia*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Trinity Western 19 18 22 24 83 British Columbia 24 18 22 26 90 « FINAL

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Game Recap

MENS BASKETBALL (CANADA WEST)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2010
TWU SPARTANS (83) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA THUNDERBIRDS (90)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UBC PREVAILS OVER TWU
-  Spartans season ends in loss.
    
VANCOUVER – The Trinity Western University Spartans needed a win to make the playoffs, and they pushed the UBC Thunderbirds to the limit, but the nation's top-ranked squad had just enough to pull out the 90-83 win Saturday night at War Memorial Gym in Vancouver.

The T-Birds led for most of the night but the Spartans wouldn't go away as they fought for their playoff lives, eventually coming back to take a two point, 78-76 lead with 4:23 remaining. The two sides battled neck-and-neck down the stretch. With UBC leading 82-81 and two minutes remaining the Thunderbirds outscored the Spartans eight to two down the stretch to take the seven point win.

Reigning CIS MVP Jacob Doerksen of Abbotsford, B.C., who fouled out with five minutes remaining, finished with 23 points, Tonner Jackson of White Rock, B.C. with 17 points, Calvin Westbrook of Courtenay, B.C. with 15 points and Daniel Horner of Abbotsford, B.C. with 14 points and six assists led the Spartans, while Blain LaBranche with 32 points and Josh Whyte with 24 points led the Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds led by five points, 24-19, at the end of the first quarter, a lead, 42-37, which they carried into the half time break.

UBC extended their lead to 12 points, 54-42, with 5:23 left in the third quarter. But the Spartans battled back to tie the game at 57-57 with just over a minute remaining in the quarter. The Thunderbirds would regain their five point margin, 64-59 as the quarter ended.

The Spartans finish the year at 9-9, which puts them in a tie for fourth in the Pacific Division with Victoria. However, the Vikes have the tiebreaker advantage, so the Spartans will not make the playoffs this year.

The Vikes are tied for the wildcard spot with the Lethbridge Pronghorns, and the wildcard winner will be decided by a coach's vote. All Canada West head coaches of non-playoff teams will vote for either Victoria or Lethbridge.

The T-Birds, meanwhile, finish the regular season as the CIS number one-ranked team at 17-1. They have the first overall seed in the conference, and will host a best-of-three series against Alberta in the first round. Those games will go February 26, 27, and 28 if necessary, at War Memorial Gym. All games start at 7 p.m.

-TW-
-contributions from UBC Sports Information

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