Scheduled Game: MINNESOTA

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Minnesota 17 20 23 20 80 « FINAL Trinity Western 8 20 19 21 68

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Game Recap

MEN’S BASKETBALL (PRE-SEASON)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2010
TWU SPARTANS (68) VS THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (80)
BROADCAST LIVE ON SPARTANTV
CLIPS AND COMMENTS AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE.COM/SPARTANSSID

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GOPHERS OUTLAST DETERMINED SPARTANS.

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Playing their first official game in the arena bowl of the Langley Events Centre the Trinity Western University Spartans opened their preseason match up with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers a little cold in the shooting department. The Spartans trailed the Gophers 17-8 after the first quarter.

TWU gradually found their range and with five minutes to go in the contest trailed the NCAA Div. I Gophers by one basket, 64-62. For the Spartans, who eventually fell 80-68, it was an early season highlight as they get ready to open the 2010-11 Canada West year.

“Our guys played out of their comfort zone which is really important for me. Doing the extra things, diving on lose balls, taking charges, not being able to step into players and taking hard fouls also and we hit some timely shots,” said TWU head coach Scott Allen. “Overall it was a great effort. Our effort was an A+ and our play was probably a C+ so we have some stuff to work on.”

Coach Allen commented on Jacob Doerksen’s performance “They [Minnesota] did a great job in the first half but we adjusted to it by putting Jake on the perimeter. That’s a luxury that we have because we have guys who can play inside and outside and it causes mismatches for other teams. Jake responded well and hit a couple timely threes and got the flow back in like he always does.”

The Spartans, who were led by Doerksen with an impressive 23 points, matched the bigger Gophers in many statistical categories. TWU shot 38.3 percent (23-60) from the field to Minnesota’s 39.7 percent (27-68) and both teams shot 32 percent from the three point line with each going 8-25. The difference in the contest was the size of the Minnesota team that allowed them to outrebound TWU 36-28 including 16-8 on the offensive glass while creating six more turnovers at 28-22.

“It was physical. That’s the only word to describe it. They’re huge and athletic. It’s something you don’t see in Canada. They have outside shooting and then down low they have huge guys. They had everything so we had to match that”, commented Doerksen after the game.

Devoe Joseph with 15 points, five assists and five steals and Maurice Walker with 11 points and 10 rebounds led the Gophers, while Tristan Smith with 15 points and seven assists and Lance Verhoeff with 11 points added to the Spartans cause.

After the game legendary Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith asked coach Allen. “He wanted to know how we play so hard and how to get that into players; I think that’s probably from the parents. It’s not coaching. It’s more the guys we have and they just like to get after it,” said Allen

Next up for the Spartans is a month of training camp as the get ready for their non-conference schedule, which opens October 14 with they host Laurentian University. TWU opens conference play Friday, October 22 in Lethbridge. Their Canada West home opener is Friday, October 29 when they play the UBC Thunderbirds.

Game Notes:  Last night Minnesota defeated UBC 80-62 after building an early 48-28 half time lead…TWU trailed 37-28 at half time and 60-47 after three quarters…the Gophers had 29 points off of turnovers to the Spartans 18…Minnesota outscored TWU 36-24 in the paint…

-TW-

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