Scheduled Game: @Manitoba*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Trinity Western 38 22 18 25 103 « FINAL Manitoba 9 22 33 12 76

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Game Recap

MEN’S BASKETBALL (CANADA WEST)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2011
TWU SPARTANS (103) VS THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS (76)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BACK-TO-BACK CENTURY MARKS TO HEAD INTO POST SEASON.

WINNIPEG – The Trinity Western University men’s basketball team once again dominated the early going to earn a 103-76 victory over the University of Manitoba Bisons Saturday night at the Investors Group Athletic Centre in Winnipeg.

“Our first quarter solidified the game for us. But it was great to have balanced scoring and getting everyone playing time is great for us as we head into the playoffs so that they can contribute when we need them to,” commented TWU head coach Scott Allen.

The Spartans followed up last night’s 101-68 victory by jumping out to a 38-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Bisons would challenge and were able to cut the margin to nine points, 73-64, with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter, but from there it was once again all TWU as the Spartans bookended their first quarter with a 25-12 fourth to claim the 27 point win.

Trinity Western, who came into the game ranked fourth in the country, move to 21-3, in their final game of the season. While, with the loss the Bisons record falls to 9-13 on the season, still good enough for seventh place in the Canada West conference.

Manitoba’s offence finally got something going in the second quarter. Both teams went stride for stride and each ended up scoring 22 points each in the quarter. Even with the surge of offence, the Bisons still trailed by a considerable margin, 60-31, at the half.

The third quarter saw shades of a possible comeback. The Bisons, who trailed by 29 going into the quarter, outscored the Spartans 33-13 over the first eight and a half minutes of the quarter to claw their way back into the contest, trailing 73-64. However, that was the last gasp for Manitoba as Trinity Western finished the quarter with a five point run to lead 78-64 heading into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter the Spartans extended their run to 28-7 to take a 30 point lead, 101-71, with three and a half minutes remaining in the game. From there TWU cruised to the 27 point win.

For the Spartans, Calvin Westbrook and Tristan Smith led the way, each scoring 24 points, while Jacob Doerksen had a quiet night with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The key for Trinity Western was their shooting percentage. They made over half their attempts, going 55.4 per cent. Leading the way for the Bisons was Sean Maxwell with a game high 33 points, while teammate Eric Garcia added 11 points to the Manitoba cause.

The Spartans now have a bye week and will wait to see what happens next week with the rest of Canada West to determine where they will finish and who they will match up with in the first round of the Canada West play-offs. TWU will open the Canada West play-offs Thurs., Feb. 24 when the will begin the best of three quarter final series at the Langley Events Centre.

Game Notes: TWU finishes the Canada West conference season with a program record 21 victories…the previous high water mark was 17, which the Spartans set in 2008-09, finishing 17-6…the Spartans are one win shy of tying the programs 23 wins over the season, which was set in 2002-03 at 23-13…in addition to their league wins the Spartans defeated Laurentian 90-76 in October…overall TWU is 22-4…Manitoba finished the night shooting 37.5 percent…the Spartans outrebounded the Bisons 53-28…the Spartans can finish no lower than second, but can still win Canada West, with two UBC losses at Victoria next weekend.

-TW-

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