WOLFPACK MEN DROP TOUGH DECISION TO BISON

For Immediate Release: November 7, 2008

Winnipeg: The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men's basketball team had some tough slugging as they dropped an 85-77 decison to the hometown University of Manitoba Bisons in Canada West action Friday (Nov 7) night.

The WolfPack led 46-42 at the half as they fell to 1 and 4 in league play. 
"It was a tough one to lose," said WolfPack Head Coach Thom Gillespie.  "We had some positive things, like rebounding from a 23-17 first quarter deficit, but we couldn't play consistantly."

The Bison's Dan Purvis-Collins hit a game-tying three pointer in the later stages of the third quarter to tie the game, and the Bisons never looked back, taking the lead shortly after, and holding on for the win.

 
The second quarter started with both teams trading baskets back and forth, before the WolfPack went on a late quarter tear, taking the lead 43-42 with just under one minute to go in the half, before hitting a late three to go up 46-42 heading into the second half. Nathan Dixon led the Bisons and all scorers in the first half with 24 points, while Drew Bleth(4th year, guard, Ridgefield, Wash) led the way for the WolfPack with 15 points and eight rebounds.

The Bisons played most of the third quarter from behind, before Purvis-Collins tied the game up at 60, then Nathan Dixon put the Bisons in front before the end of the quarter with a three of his own, bringing the score to 63-60 heading into the final frame.
 

The WolfPack came to within two early in the fourth quarter, but a technical foul on the WolfPack’s Jeff Friesen(4th year, forward, Duncan, BC)  halted the WolfPack momentum, and the Bisons made both free-throws to put bring the game to its 85-77 final score.

 Dixon continued his strong play into the second half, finishing the game as the top scorer with 34 points.  The WolfPack had five double digit scorers: Jeff Friesen, George Aramide(2nd year,forward, London,UK) , Drew Bleth, Matt Pierce (2nd year, forward, Winnipeg, Man), and Connor Agnew (3rd year, guard, Prince Rupert, BC).

The Bison are now 2 and 3 on the year.

(with assistance from U of Manitoba)