WOLFPACK OUTSCORE UBC IN 2ND QUARTER BUT FALL SHORT IN VANCOUVER
Connor Agnew (left) and Jeff Friesen (right) were the top point getters for TRU
For Immediate Release: February 6, 2009
Vancouver, BC--The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men's Basketball team earned themselves some respect on Friday (Feb 6). The WolfPack outscored the host University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 25-21 in the second quarter. But, they still fell short in Canada West University action. The final score was 85-73 as UBC won their ninth straight game to continue to sit atop of the Pacific Division.
The WolfPack trailed by 22 at one point in the game. But they were only down by 10 at the half (46-36). UBC was up by 11 (66-55) at three quarter time.
"We had a sluggish start," stated WolfPack head coach Thom Gillespie. "Overall, we had a great effort. The guys played hard and it was a great preperation for us as we took on one of the best teams in the Nation. We had some trouble executing down the stretch unfortunately."
Jeff Friesen (4th year, forward, Duncan, BC) led the way for TRU. Friesen was 8 for 18 and had 21 points and three rebounds. Connor Agnew (3rd year, guard, Prince Rupert, BC) had 11 points going 4 for 7 and having two rebounds. Greg Stewart (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) had nine rebounds to lead TRU.
hompson Rivers continued to keep the pressure on UBC in the third quarter as the two sides traded shot-for-shot throughout the frame. Although they never managed to pull even with the T-Birds, the WolfPack gave the Pacific Division leaders a run for their money, thanks in large part to a game-high 21 point effort by Jeff Friesen. Friesen also led all players with five assists and 34 minutes of playing time.
"It was a tough afternoon game," said UBC coach Kevin Hanson. "We still had five guys in double digits and scored 89 points, but I certainly wasn't happy at all with the defensive effort. The focus was not there, and we have played enough afternoons and we practice this time of day, so the mental aspect should be there."
As evidenced by Hanson's comment, the defensive effort wasn't one of the T-Birds' best this year. Although UBC's defence ranks second in opponent field goal percentage (38%) and tied for first in scoring defence (66.0), they allowed the 13th ranked Thompson Rivers offence to put up 73 points on 43.3% field goal shooting on Friday.
"It was our goal to come out with a great defensive effort but it certainly wasn't there," said Hanson. "I thought we were over aggressive and that allowed them to penetrate and caused us to be late in our rotations."
Despite the defensive lapses, the always-solid T-Bird offence got the job done. Blain LaBranche led the way with 18 points and four assists, and Chris Dyck, Matt Rachar, Kyle Watson and Nathan Yu all hit double digits in scoring.
TRU had 17 turnovers to UBC's 12. The Thunderbirds outrebounded the WolfPack 44-33.
The Pack, who've lost their last 16 Canada West games in a rebuilding year will close out the season Saturday (Feb 7) at U Vic. UBC, the number two team in the CIS top 10 rankings, will finish the regular campaign at home Saturday night against the University of the Fraser Valley.
(with assistance from UBC Sports Information)