Scheduled Game: ALBERTA*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Alberta 45 34 79 « FINAL Trinity Western 33 42 75

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Game Recap

Men’s Basketball (Canada West)
Saturday, January 20, 2007
ALBERTA (79) TWU (75)

SPARTANS SECOND HALF COME BACK FALLS SHORT
-late fouls and turnovers prove to be the difference

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Led by 2nd year guard C.G. Morrison’s 33 points the University of Alberta Golden Bears improved their season record to 12 – 4 with a 79-75 win over the Trinity Western University Spartans (8-10) and stretched their winning streak to four games as TWU drops their second consecutive game. Brian Banman (4th, Kelowna) turned in another solid performance with 23 points and three assists in this high-paced, nail-biter.

TWU battled back from a 12 point deficit at the half and actually outscored Alberta 42-34 in the second half but couldn’t overcome the damage that was done in the first half. TWU’s coach, Stan Peters noted that, “we wanted to get within four points with two [minutes] to go and we did and then it just [came] down to execution and we didn’t execute down the stretch.” However, despite the loss, overall he was “really pleased with the high pace that his team played at because this prevented [Alberta] from running their [half court] offense which they are very good at.”

During the first few minutes of the game, the two teams exchanged baskets. Banman scored seven points in the first five minutes as TWU took a 16-15 lead seven minutes in. It was then that Morrison caught fire and sparked a 12-4 Alberta run mid-way through the first half. Morrison scored 23 of his game-high 33 points in the first half off of 7 for 10 shooting.

Alberta led by as much 17 and took a 45-33 lead into the half.

At the start of the second, Alberta played a zone defense and used the entire shot clock on offense in order to slow down the high octane TWU and it appeared to be working as Alberta maintained their lead until the nine minute mark when a steal and consequent jumper by Luke Robinson (4th, Ahousat) triggered a TWU run.

A successful field goal by Joe Vroom (2nd, Abbotsford) with 6:41 remaining in the game cut the Alberta lead to eight. While back-to-back hoops from Banman and Robinson, with three and a half minutes left in the game, made it a five point game, 67-72.

Alberta got two back shortly after, resulting from a turnover by TWU, however a jumper by Banman and a clutch three pointer from guard Jon Schmidt (4th, Rosedale) closed the lead to two, 72-74, with 1:31 remaining in the game.

The turning point came with a minute left when TWU committed a foul, 20 feet from the basket, to put Morrison at the free throw line. He made the first shot but missed the second, however TWU were unable to come up with the rebound and sent Alberta to line again. Timely rebounding from Alberta prevented TWU from getting a chance to complete the come back.

For Alberta, Morrison led all scorers with 33 points and added three rebounds and one assist, followed by Scott Gordon with 15 points and three assists.

While Banman led TWU with 23 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Vroom contributed 14 points, four rebounds, and one steal in the losing cause.

Coach Peters suggested that his team “is in a war and there are battles within a war and we are losing some really close battles right now.” TWU will look to win these battles when the UBC Thunderbirds play host to the Spartans on Thursday, January 25th and Saturday, the  27th at 8pm for both games.

Games Notes ...FG% TWU (51.7) ALB (58.3)...TO’s TWU (27) ALB (27)...Three pointers TWU (7-20) ALB (7-12)...FTA TWU (6-10) ALB (16-24)...FT% TWU (60) ALB (66.7)...Rebounds TWU (23) ALB (24)
...Alberta is currently first place in the Central Division while TWU is in fourth place in the Pacific Division.

-TW-

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