Scheduled Game: Peninsula

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Peninsula College Pirates 35 36 71 TWU Spartans 31 43 74 « FINAL

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Game Recap

Men's Basketball (Red Robin Classic Game Three)
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
TWU Spartans (74) vs the Peninsula College Pirates (71)

Spartans Rally for Win

Langley, British Columbia - Brian Banman made his first appearance on the court since October and the Trinity Western University men's basketball team overcame a ten point second half deficit to top the Peninsula College Pirates 74-71 in the third game of TWU's Red Robin Classic Tuesday night at TWU.

Banman (3rd yr, guard, Kelowna, BC) started his first game since his near fatal car accident and notched ten points, three rebounds and two assists to earn Husky Energy Player of the Game honours and spark TWU to a late rally over the Pirates.

The Spartans struggled to find a rhythm in the first half. The Pirates were able to run on Spartan misses, while TWU had to constantly battle five on five in the halfcourt. Even with their struggles, the Spartans only trailed the Pirates by four points at the half, 35-31.

Peninsula extended their lead to seven points, 42-35, three minutes into the second half. TWU Head Coach Stan Peters called a timeout and exhorted his troops to increase their effort on the defensive end.

The Spartans upped their intensity, but did not make a dent in the deficit and trailed 67-59 with 4:22 remaining.

Then the Spartan rally started. Three consecutive baskets by the Spartans eliminated the eight point deficit and in less then 60 seconds the Spartans went from being down 67-59 to a 67-67 tie. Adam Friesen (4th yr, guard, Abbotsford, BC) and Banman hit back-to-back threes and David Bron (2nd yr, forward, Richmond, BC) followed up with a jumper to tie the game and bring the Spartan fans back into the game.

Neither team could break the deadlock for the next minute and a half. Then with two minutes remaining Antavio Cox went 1-2 from the line to put the Pirates up 68-67.

Then with 45 seconds remaining Bron hit a wide open three from the top of the key to give the Spartans a 70-68 lead.

TWU looked like they had the game locked down after a defensive stop and a transition lay-up by Logan Kitteringham put the Spartans up 72-68 with 30 seconds remaining. But Peninsula's Cox quickly ran down the floor and drained a three with 26 seconds remaining.

Peninsula pressed but could not come up with the steal and were forced to foul with the shot clock turned off. TWU's Kitteringham went to the line for two, but was unable to convert and the Pirates had the ball and a chance to win with 17 seconds remaining.

The Pirates' Willie Blackburn went up for the three to take the lead with six seconds remaining, but his shot missed and Kitteringham corralled the rebound and hit teammate Adam Friesen with the outlet pass. Friesen was then fouled and sent to the line with two seconds remaining. Friesen calmly drained both shots to give him a game high 23 points and the Spartans a 74-71 win.

Scott Helpenstell and Antavio Cox led the Pirates with 17 points apiece, with Helpenstell adding nine rebounds. TWU's Logan Kitteringham (5th yr, post, Langley, BC) finished with another double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

The two teams will continue play tomorrow with Laval taking on the Trinity Western University Spartans at 8:00 pm, while Peninsula College will battle UBC at 4:00 pm.

Game notes: Tonight's game was the first live broadcast on the Spartan Athletics website at www.twu.ca/athletics... check the site for Wednesday's game vs. Laval and Thursday's game vs. Athletes in Action... Peninsula shot 57.7% from the field, while TWU shot 50%...TWU went 6-25 from behind the arc, Peninsula went 4-7....Peninsula went 7-16 from the foul line, while TWU went 12-19...the Pirates had 20 turnovers to the Spartans 13...

-TW-

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