By Katie Maryschuk, Trinity Western University
LANGLEY, B.C. – The Trinity Western men's basketball team won its last home game of the season, beating Thompson Rivers 81-74 Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre.
With just over eight minutes to play, the WolfPack drew within two points, 62-60, but a four-point run from the Spartans opened a six-point gap and TRU was never closer than four points the rest of the night.
This is the second win of the season for the Spartans, moving their regular game record to 2-16 while the WolfPack now sit at 10-8.
On senior athlete appreciation night, graduating fifth-year Pogos Trunyan (Sacramento, Calif.) had a game-high 21 points, five of which came as 3-pointers as well as eight assists. Vartan Tanielian (Surrey, B.C) finished with 17 points and six rebounds. WolfPack forward Joe Davis (Kamloops, B.C.) came in with 20 points and three assists.
Mike Rouault of the WolfPack led the game in rebounds with seven.
In a pregame ceremony, senior players Peter Spangehl (Surrey, B.C.), Tyus Allen (Surrey, B.C.) and Trunyan were honoured for their time at TWU.
The Spartans got off to a strong start in the first quarter, with Tee Maberry (Pasadena, Calif.) capturing the first three points of the game. TWU quickly advanced to a 21-13 lead. The WolfPack replied with seven points in the last minutes of the quarter to make the score 23-20.
The second quarter started with three points from WolfPack forward Luke Morris (Mission, B.C.) a minute and a half in. The score remained close as the lead changed hands twice. TRU led the quarter in 3-pointers, sinking three over the Spartans two. TWU finished the first half with a 39-35 lead.
Early in the third quarter, the Spartans started to pull away with the efforts of Trunyan, who had 10 points in the frame. The pace of the game sped up and the Spartans put up 23 points to win the quarter 62-54, with Trunyan sinking a late jumper.
In the fourth quarter, the Spartans held the WolfPack off down the stretch, as TWU possessed at least a seven-point edge over the final 1:55.
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Aaron Muhic
On the Game
"TRU is a very, very disciplined team and a good team. They beat us last night so we knew it was going to be a battle. They are very physical. Our guys rose and fought and we are just fortunate enough to come out on top. I'm proud of the older guys. There was a lot of foul trouble and a lot of adversity, so it's always nice to come out on top."
On the graduating seniors
"Peter Spangehl has been here for five years, for him to win his last home game on our home court is pretty sweet. Pogos of course too. It was good for them.
"To me, it's about legacy and about them remembering their time at Trinity Western and being student-athletes. That's a big part of it. They can share it with their families and friends and things like that. It's been a rough go, and the guys have stayed steady and worked hard so they should be proud of tonight's game."
NOTABLE
• Ten of 11 players on TWU's team scored, while seven out of eight players for the WolfPack scored.
• With the win, TWU ties its season record for points allowed. In the Spartans last win on Jan. 5, they beat UFV 80-74.
• Alumni and coaches welcomed Allen, Spangehl and Trunyan as official Spartan alumni.
• In his final home game as a Spartan, Spangehl finished with six rebounds and two points.
NEXT UP
TWU heads to Edmonton next weekend to play MacEwan for their last regular season games.
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