By Larry Read

TRU Sports Information Officer

KAMLOOPS, BC---The Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack men's basketball team is back to .500. The WolfPack split their Canada West home opening weekend with the visiting University of Victoria Vikes. On Saturday (Nov 10), The Pack dumped the Vikes 80-70 on the Warner Rentals court at the Tournament Capital Centre.

The Pack were led by TRU Bookstore/McDonalds "Leader of the Pack" player of the game Joe Davis. The fourth year forward from Kamloops had 24 points.

TRU is now 2 and 2 on the year.  Victoria falls to 2 and 4.

 SYNOPSIS

The Pack started quickly out of the gate and led 17-12 after the first quarter. Victoria outgunned Thompson Rivers 16-14 in the second quarter and trailed 31-28 at the half.

Vitoira was led by Mason Loewen with 26 points. Jordan Charles chipped in with 21 points.

Three other TRU players were in double digits aside from Davis.   Anton Billous had 18 points. Derek Rhodes and Tyus De Vries chipped in with 14 a piece.  De Vries, who was a Canada West rookie all-star last year also chipped in with 13 boards including 10 on the defensive glass.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

(click here)

KEY STATS:

Thompson Rivers :

Anton Bilous (4^th  year, guard, Cherkassy, Ukraine): 18 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds (3 def) in 39 mins

Joe Davis (4th year forward, Kamloops,BC) : 22 points, 9 rebounds (8 def), 6 assists, 1 steal in 36 mins

Derek Rhodes (5^th  year, forward, Antioch,CA):14 points, 5 defensive rebounds, 2 assists in 26 mins

Tyus De Vries (2nd year, guard, Chilliwack, BC): 14 points, 13 rebounds (10 def), 2 assists in 30 mins

VICTORIA:

Mason Loewen (5^th year, guard, Victoria, BC): 26 points, 4 rebounds (3 def) in 34 mins

Jordan Charles (5^th year, guard, Duncan, BC): 21 points, 9 defensive rebounds in 39 mins

Scott Kellum (3^rd year, guard, Issaquah, WA): 7 points in 20 mins

Aaron Tesfagiorgis (1^st year, guard, Calgary, AB) 3 steals in 15 mins

Turnovers:

TRU: 14  VICTORIA: 9

Score by Periods:

TRU                17  14  33  16  --80

VICTORIA        12  16  14  28  --70

RECORD:

TRU: 2-2  VICTORIA: 2-4

THEY SAID IT! (post game quotes):

TRU Head Coach Scott Clark:

On the Contest: " Maybe we got Victoria a little fatigued as they were at the end on the road. We were able outlast them.  We had a strong third quarter, We came out with a bit of energy and Victoria might have been tired.  They put up a heck of a fight. We were fortunate that the result went our way."

Video of post game interview: click here

TRU forward Joe Davis (4^th year, Kamloops, BC):

On split of the weekend: " We are happy with our effort tonight. We thought we could be better in some areas yesterday. We take it a game at a time. We will enjoy the win tonight and start getting ready for next weekend. We had a good balance tonight tonight. Everybody just bought in. We were working the ball inside and out and bought into our defensive system. It paid off."

Video of post game interview: click here

Victoria head coach Craig Beauchamp ( 16^th season):

Difference on Saturday compared to Friday's victory: "They had a good bounce back game. We expected that. For the most part we got out of the first half down three. I thought we didn't play well. They had good looks. In the third quarter, that was the difference. They got on a bit of a run and we couldn't stop the bleeding."

Video of post game interview:  click here

UP NEXT:

Both the WolfPack and the Vikes will be on the road next week in Canada West play.  Thompson Rivers will head down the Coquihalla highway and meet up with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Friday and Saturday (Nov 16-17).

Victoria goes over the Rockies to take on the University of Calgary Dinos. Those games are set for Saturday and Sunday (Nov 17-18).

Next home action for the Pack will be Friday November 23^rd when they have a rare Friday afternoon tilt with the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat.  The game will go at 12:45 pm. The WolfPack are inviting elementary schools into the TCC for a 'school day' to expose them to the sport.  The game marks the return of Ken Olynyk to the Tournament Capital Centre. The former long time TRU athletics and recreation director is the interim head coach of the Heat.

All WolfPack games—home and away—are webcast on a pay per view basis on Canada West TV.  WolfPack home games are webcast by James Matthews, Adam Donnelly and former WolfPack player Vince Watson with Dylana Milobar providing interviews before, after the first and third quarters and half time.