Scheduled Game: @Thompson Rivers*

93

GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Trinity Western 26 17 24 26 93 « FINAL Thompson Rivers 21 17 15 17 70

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Game Recap

MEN’S BASKETBALL (2012 PRESEASON)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013
TRINITY WESTERN (93) AT THOMPSON RIVERS (70)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS RUN AWAY FROM WOLFPACK

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia – The Trinity Western University Spartans moved one step closer to securing a post season spot with an impressive 93-70 victory over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Thursday night at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops, B.C.

The fourth place Spartans, who had five players in double digits in scoring, move to 8-9 in Canada West play, while the WolfPack drops to 6-12.

TWU has gotten healthy at the right time. After injuries saw the Spartans stumble out of the gate with a 2-7 record, the Langley squad has nearly flipped the record having won six of their last eight games.

After leading by as many as 14 points, 35-21, the Spartans entered half time with a slim five point lead, 43-38.

After the break Thompson Rivers cut the Trinity Western lead to three points, 45-42, but from that point on the Spartans took control. Over the next 10 minutes TWU would outscore TRU 41-17 to take a 27 point, 86-59, lead into the final five minutes of the game.

“Shooting percentage was the difference in the game for us,” stated Trinity Western bench boss Scott Allen. “Our tenacity was the difference on the glass in the second half.  Some of the guys were hitting their shots. On some days those wouldn’t go in; today they did. We had a lot assists in the second half as well.”

“We did not do a good job of handling the basketball,” said Thompson Rivers coach Scott Clark. “In the third quarter, we missed some easy shots.  When you turn the ball over ten times in that quarter, those are ten shots you don’t get.  That proved to be costly.”

Trinity Western was led by third year forward Tonner Jackson (Surrey, B.C.) with 21.  Fifth year point guard Tristan Smith (Los Angeles) contributed 15 points, with third year guard Justin Bakuteka (Toronto) adding 14 and second year forward Tyler Linttell (Kelowna, B.C.) having 10.  

Third year guard Mark Perrin (Toronto) had a double-double: 13 points and 10 rebounds.

For TRU: it was guard Kevin Pribilsky (Victoria, BC) who had 17 points. Post Blaz Bozinovic (Kamloops, BC) having 10 points and 12 rebounds…seven on offense.  

Will Ondrik (2nd year, forward, Vernon, BC) returned to the TRU line up for the first time in the 2013 calender year. He had seven points in 18 minutes of court time.

Allen thought the victory was key in their playoff run. “This game was key for us. I think the differential was as well. At this point  I think it was a near ‘must win’ for TRU.  Both of us have Fraser Valley twice.  The WolfPack are capable of winning.  Having Will (Ondrik) back helped them. It’s his first game back and you can tell the overall rebounding wasn’t as good. I really like the way their big guys played.  They were very tough. Coach Clark has done a great job with their bigs for sure.”

The two teams meet again at the Tournament Capital Centre on Friday (Feb 1).  Tip-off is 8 p.m.

Game Notes: TWU led in all shooting areas, finishing 45.6 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from the three point line and 73.1 percent from the foul line, while TRU shot 37.1 percent, 29.2 percent and 68.8 percent respectively... the Spartans also had a 46-33 edge in total rebounds…TWU is second in the CIS in steals per game with 11.1…

-TW-

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