MBB COME CLOSE TO KNOCKING OFF CLAN IN FIRST OF TWO February 5, 2010
Posted by lread in Men's Basketball.trackback
A. Snucins photo
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball team proved they can play and stay with the number seven ranked team in the CIS. The WolfPack outscored the Simon Fraser University Clan 24-22 in the second quarter and later fell short to them 79-73 in a see saw Canada West basketball game at the Tournament Capital Center on Friday (Feb 6).
Matt Kuzminski (5th year, Guard, Nanaimo, BC) hit a three pointer with 1:17 to make the score 74-71 which was the difference in the contest. The victory gives SFU a record of 13 and 3. TRU falls to 3 and 14.
“I thought we had a let down early in the first quarter,” said WolfPack head coach Thom Gillespie. “We started out really well and they capitalized. We didn’t score for a very long time. I thought we played pretty well through the second and third quarters. But down the stretch, we didn’t execute. They are number seven in the country for a reason. They can execute and get key stops.”
“They are a quality opponent,” said SFU coach Scott Clark. “For them to beat Trinity Western and Victoria proves they are a quality basketball team. They have some size and some shooting. Despite their record, we knew that they would be tough against us.”
The Clan outrebounded TRU 43-37 in the contest led by Eric Burrell’s (3rd year, forward, Surrey, BC) 12. TRU turned over the ball 15 times in the contest compared to SFU’s 12.
The game see sawed with both teams exchanging the lead.
Greg Stewart (4th year, forward, Kamloops, BC) was the games high scorer. He was named the TRU Bookstore “Leader of the Pack” player of the game with 22 points. Sean Garvey (5th year, guard, Kamloops, BC) had 16 points for the WolfPack. Matt Pierce (3rd year, guard, Winnipeg, Man) added 13 points with Drew Bleth (5th year, guard, Ridgeview,Wash) contributing 10points.
SFU was led by Kuzminski with 16 points. Sean Burke added 15 points. Other Clan in double figures were Kevin Shaw( 5th year, guard, North Vancouver, BC) and Jordan Nostedt( 4th year, guard, Brandon, Man) with 10 points a piece.
Clark thought the difference in the contest could have been his team’s depth: “ We didn’t have to play anybody any extended minutes where they had to.”
The Clan coach expects more of the same when the two teams close out the Canada West regular season Saturday (Feb 6) at the TCC at 7 pm. “ It should be a good game. I know it’s going to be seniors night and there will be a lot of emotion from those kids. They’ll want to play well. We will have to be up to the task.”
Gillespie expects his three seniors—Bleth, Garvey and Friesen —to be composed in their final University basketball game. “ I don’t anticipate they’ll get caught up in emotion. They have had a pretty good experience in general. Jeff and Sean had a championship and a different type, but good experience in the CIS. Drew has really enjoyed all the friends he has made and his teammates and to experience something most U.S. kids don’t get to experience. I think they will be happy celebrating their time here. Hopefully they go out with a “W”.”
Bleth, Friesen and Garvey will be honoured before the contests.
TRU WOLFPACK ATHLETICS: PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2010 CIS MENS NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS-MARCH 12-14 TH TOURNAMENT CAPITAL CENTER, KAMLOOPS BC
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