WOLFPACK PLAY BETTER BUT STILL SUFFER DEFEAT

For Immediate Release: December 29, 2008

Pasco, Washington--A basketball team is successful when it has lots of height and can dominate the boards. The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men's Basketball team suffered from a lack of both as they dropped an 85-68 exhibition decision to the Columbia Basin Hawks of Washington State this afternoon (Dec 29).

Playing without 6'7" Jeff Friesen (4 th year, forward, Duncan BC) and 6'6" George Aramide (2nd year, London, UK), the WolfPack were in the game in the first half utilizing Greg Stewart (7'2",3rd year Forward, Kamloops, BC) and Matt Perry (6'5" forward, third year, Smithers, BC). However, both fouled out.

"We did play better than we did yesterday," said WolfPack head coach Thom Gillespie. "But as soon as Greg and Matt were out of the game, we couldn't rebound."

For the second straight game, rookie forward Charles Barton (Vernon, BC) was the top scorer for TRU. He had 13 points. Stewart had 11 points and 11 rebounds in his 20 minutes of court time.

TRU now gears up to return to play in the CIS. They entertain the University of BC Thunderbirds Saturday and Sunday (Jan 3 rd and 4 th) at the Tournament Capital Centre. Tip off for both games is 3 pm.

RIM SHOTS: The WolfPack have lost eight in a row (including league games). Friesen remained home due to work commitments. Aramide hadn't returned from the United Kingdom. He is expected to be in the lineup this weekend. Drew Bleth (4 th year, guard, Richland Washington) and Matt Pierce (2nd year, guard, Winnipeg, Manitoba) both played in this game. But both are battling the affects of the flu.