By Tyler Lowey
WolfPack Sports Information
KAMLOOPS, BC--- The Thompson Rivers University men's basketball program were in position to pull off a late comeback Saturday night (Jan. 26), but narrowly lost 73-66 to the University of Manitoba Bisons at the Tournament Capital Centre.
Prior to tipoff, the WolfPack honoured their lone fifth year player, Derek Rhodes. Rhodes has played for the 'Pack for the past three seasons after transferring from Sacramento Community College.
Tyus DeVries got cooking for the WolfPack early, as he drilled the team's first eight points. Rhodes capped off the opening quarter with a pair of 3s, as the 'Pack led 20-11 after 10 minutes.
Third-year Bisons forward James Wagner went on a run of his own in the second quarter, as his 11 points in the second frame helped trim the WolfPack lead to 35-29.
DeVries added a bucket in the second to lead his team with 10 at the break. Through 20 minutes, the WolfPack received scoring from every player on the roster.
Offensive turnovers hurt the WolfPack in the third, as they gave up the lead when the Bisons cashed in 13 points off eight turnovers. Rashawn Browne turned around a 1-for-7 night with eight points in the third period.
Tied 63-63 with 2:31 remaining in the fourth, missed shots and fouled opportunities by the WolfPack gave the Bisons the edge late.
The Bisons have two players graduating the USports ranks this year. This was the final regular season trip to BC for D.J. Jordan Jr. and Malik Irwin.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
KEY STATS:
TRU:
Tyus DeVries (2nd year guard, Chilliwack, BC): 15 points, 7 rebounds
Derek Rhodes (5th year forward, Antioch, CA): 15 points, 8 assists
Joe Davis (4th year forward, Kamloops, BC): 7 points, 7 rebounds
MAN:
James Wagner (3rd year forward, Winnipeg, MB): 16 points, 5 rebounds
Rashawn Browne (4th year guard, Toronto, ON): 16 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds
Keiran Zziwa (3rd year guard, Winnipeg, MB): 12 points
Turnovers:
TRU: 19 MAN: 16
Score by periods:
MAN 11 18 24 20 -- 73
TRU 20 15 17 14 -- 68
Record:
TRU: 6-12 Manitoba : 9-9
THEY SAID IT! (post game quotes):
TRU Head Coach Scott Clark:
On the Contest:
"It was a close game down the stretch. We didn't get shots and we handled the ball poorly. You can't do that, you got to be able to handle the basketball better than that. That's unfortunate."
On the Derek Rhodes career at TRU:
"Derek is a good basketball player and a great person. He is a good guy and as much as anything, that means a lot. He's scored a lot of baskets and I think he's represented his state of California, his country of the United States, this institution, his family and himself very well. At the end of the day, I'm very glad that he is part of our basketball team."
Video of post game interview: click here
Bison head coach Kirby Schepp (10th season):
On battling TRU in two tight games this weekend:
"TRU [was] very physical, they are a very-well coached team and they were certainly not going to make it easy. We had to play our absolute best tonight."
On how they pulled ahead of TRU in the closing minutes:
"We had guys make some big plays. I thought Rashawn Browne really stepped up late. We had the ball in his hands lot. He made smart plays, found open people and made a couple open jump shots. Throughout the game, James Wagner was really solid, [too]."
Video of post game interview: click here
UP NEXT:
The 'Pack close out their 2018-19 Canada West campaign next weekend (Feb. 1-2) against the University of Calgary Dinos at the Jack Simpson Gym. The Bisons will play their cross-town rival, the Winnipeg Wesmen, in a home-and-home series starting January 31 and finishing February 2. The series opener will be played at the University of Winnipeg.
All of these games are webcast on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV.
OF NOTE:
The "TRU Bookstore/McDonalds Leader of the Pack" Player of the Game was Rhodes, keeping the tradition alive of honouring the graduating player after his final home game.