The University of British Columbia Athletics

VANCOUVER – The Trinity Western Spartans stifled the UBC Thunderbirds defensively in the fourth quarter to earn a split in their weekend series, beating the 'Birds 73-66 on Saturday night at War Memorial Gym.

BOX SCORE


It was a see-saw battle that included nine lead changes and lopsided scoring margins in each of the four quarters, with the 'Birds dominating the first and third, and the Spartans taking control in the second and fourth.
 
The Spartans trailed by five entering the fourth, but they quickly surged ahead 63-62 on a 7-1 run. From there, the Trinity Western defence took over, forcing six fourth-quarter turnovers from the T-Birds and holding them to a total of five points in the frame.
 
After UBC tied things up again at 66, Tyler Linttell got the go-ahead basket for the Spartans with just under two minutes to go. UBC then turned the ball over on two straight offensive fouls, allowing the visitors to clinch things at the free throw line with 28 seconds left. Anthony Ottley made the first and missed the second one short, but grabbed his own rebound and put it back for a five-point lead.
 
"We went too individual and lost focus on the team concept. It was pretty obvious we didn't execute anything in the fourth," said UBC head coach Kevin Hanson. "In back to back games, the team that loses the first night sometimes has more fire to come in the next night. Also, we're down some guys, so our guys have to learn to play back-to-back nights with big minutes."
 
Ottley was involved in another key momentum-swinging play at the end of the second quarter. UBC was inbounding the ball with five seconds left before halftime, but the Spartans stole it and got it to Ottley, who put up a quick shot from very long range and got it to fall, giving the Spartans a one-point lead at the break.
 
The T-Birds were already missing guard Isaiah Solomon and winger Conor Morgan heading into the game, and starting point guard Jordan Jensen-Whyte was forced to play through a mild ankle sprain he suffered in the third quarter
 
The lack of healthy personnel and resulting fatigue in the second night of a back-to-back may have played a part in UBC's struggles at the free throw line, where they hit just 20 of 35 attempts for a 57 percent mark.
 
"Obviously in a close game you look at a bunch of possessions like that shot at halftime," said Hanson. "We turned the ball over and they bust a three on us. And at the end, a missed free throw box out, and there's five points right there. And we missed 15 free throws, so that's enough said about this one."
 
Ottley and Tyus Allen each ahd 12 points to lead the Spartans. Justin Bakuteka, Denny McDonald and Kelvin Smith all scored in double figures as well, as Trinity Western shot 41 percent from the field.
 
Tonner Jackson led the way for UBC against his former team, recording 13 points and 11 rebounds. David Wagner scored 14, Andrew McGuinness had 12, and Tommy Nixon added 10 as the team shot 37 percent overall.
 
Both teams are now 2-2 after splitting the series. The Spartans will return home for a two-game series against UNBC next weekend, while UBC hits the road to take on Thompson Rivers in Kamloops.
 
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