WOLFPACK MENS BASKETBALL LOSES 11 TH STRAIGHT LEAGUE GAME

(Connor Agnew at Foul Line--he was hurt in this game vs Trinity)

For immediate Release: January 17, 2009

Kamloops, BC—To say this has been a trying 2009 for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men’s Basketball team is an understatement.  Coach Thom Gillespie has tried to work miracles with a squad that he was handed when he came in in late August.   But a short bench and inexperience seems to be catching up to the WolfPack.  TRU dropped it’s 11 th straight Canada West league game tonight (Jan 17) to the hometown Trinity Western University Spartans.  The score was 85-66.

“It was a much better effort tonight on many fronts,” said Gillespie. “Despite a shortened bench we did rebound better. We just couldn’t handle the basketball.”

The WolfPack were playing without 3rd year guard Connor Agnew (Prince Rupert, BC) who suffered an ankle injury. That forced the remainder of the WolfPack players to see more court time than they usually would.  Gillespie pointed to Greg Stewart (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) who played 30 minutes.

The Spartans though used a 23-9 fourth quarter run to defeat the WolfPack 85.The win gives TWU nine straight Canada West wins, which ties the school record that was set in the 2005-2006 season, and moves them to 12-5 on the season. The loss drops the WolfPack to 2-15 and eliminates them from post season contention. TWU currently sits in second place in the Pacific Division with 24 points.

Heading into the fourth quarter the Spartans held a slim five point, 62-57, lead on the WolfPack. But TWU put their starters in to start the fourth and four and a half minutes later had blown open the game with a 16-3 run to lead by 18 points, 78-60.

It was the Spartans depth that made the difference. TWU's bench outplayed TRU's and forced the WolfPack to play their starters, while the Spartans starters were able to get rested. The Spartans bench outscored the WolfPack 28-0.

TWU led by 10 points, 44-34 at the half and 22-20 at the end of the first quarter.

The Spartans, with four players in double digit scoring, were led by Louis Hurd (Spokane, Wash.) with 18 points, five rebounds and five steals, Lance Verhoeff (Calgary) with 14 points, six rebounds, Matt Myers (Tumwater, Wash.) with 13 points and Jamie Vaughan (Chilliwack, B.C.) with 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while the WolfPack were led by Drew Bleth (Ridgefield, Wash.) with 25 points and four steals, Jeff Friesen (Duncan, B.C.) with 23 points and Greg Stewart (Kamloops, B.C.) with 10 points and 16 rebounds.

The win gives the Spartans the season sweep, 3-0, of the WolfPack.

 Next up for the WolfPack is at home against the University of Victoria Vikes at home for their final games of the year at the Tournament Capital Center (Jan 23-24).

Game Notes: The last time the Spartans lost a Canada West game was on Nov. 21 when they fell 68-61 to the University of Victoria in Victoria...TWU finished shooting 41 percent (32-77) from the field, 40 percent (10-25) from the three point line and 84 percent (11-13) from the foul line, while TRU shot 38 percent (23-60), 29 percent (5-17) and 83 percent (15-18) respectively...the WolfPack committed 27 turnovers to the Spartans 15...after going 0-9 from behind the arc in his last three games, TWU guard Myers hit three of his first four three point shots tonight, he currently averages 44 percent from the three point line

(compiled with assistance from the Trinity Western University Sports Information Department)