[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Vince Watson in air vs EWU (Andrew Snucins photo)"][/caption] The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball team experienced their first game action of the 2012-13 season.   It was ‘pre season’ all the way as the WolfPack dropped an 87-70 decision to the visiting Eastern Washington University Eagles of Cheney, Washington.   The NCAA Division I school is on a tour of British Columbia. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Coach Scott Clark talks to his players (Andrew Snucins photo)"][/caption] “I thought our effort was ok but our youth showed in that we turned over the ball too many times,” said WolfPack head coach Scott Clark.  Thompson Rivers had 28 turnovers in comparison to their American counterparts, who had practiced for two weeks prior to this match.  The WolfPack had four practices before the tilt. “Our guys were just eager to play a game against someone else,” stated Eagles head coach Jim Hayford, who arrived in Kamloops just minutes before tip off.  “ I thought Thompson Rivers showed us some stuff tonight. I think they will have a really good season. “ “I thought we took care of the basketball really well, Hayford continued when asked about what he liked about his team.” We limited our turnovers.  It’s my second year at Eastern. We are a very young team with a lot of new guys.  I don’t know what to expect.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Kevin Pribilsky leaps against Eastern Washington (Andrew Snucins photo)"][/caption] The Eagles were up 20-16 after the first quarter and  led at the half by eight (42-34).  Eastern Washington had three players in double figures led by Collin Chiverton (Senior, forward, San Jose, CA) who had 22 points.  Juston Crosgile (Junior, guard, Paterson, NJ) had 14 points while Kevin Winford (Senior, guard, Anchorage, Alaska) had 10 points. Martin Seiferth (Sophomore, forward, Berlin Germany) had 11 rebounds. “Defensively we had too many breakdowns when we had to be tougher,” the WolfPack coach continued.  “We needed to be tougher and get a stop. That is the  difference between being a good team and an average team.  We have our work cut out for us.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Wil Ondrik was the Pack's leading scorer on this night (Andrew Snucins photo)"][/caption] The WolfPack were led by Will Ondrik (2^nd year, forward, Vernon, BC) who had 16 points and 10 rebounds. “I thought Wil could have had more points,” Clark said of the sophomore. “ He had some other chances that he couldn’t finish off.   He was OK on the glass but we need to clean that up as well.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="370" caption="Blaz Bozinovic (Andrew Snucins photo)"][/caption] Clark figured that Ondrik and fellow second year player Blaz Bozinovich (post, Kamloops, BC) came back from the summer in better condition. “ A few of the guys did what we asked of them this summer,” Clark stated.  “ The results showed.  But right now we are not fit enough or strong enough. We can  improve those things dramatically over the next month. That is a major task at hand.  I thought our fatigue showed.  We aren’t where we need to be physically.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Troy Grant played his first game for the WolfPack (Andrew Snucins photo)"][/caption] Theron Haslom (2^nd year, guard, Oak Harbor, WA) had 10 points and eight boards in his WolfPack debut while Vincent Watson (2^nd year, guard, Portmore, Jamaica) had 10 points and three rebounds. “We had some empty trips at important times,” Clark said about his team’s free throw shooting which was 17 for 27. “There were a few times where we went oh for from the line.  That leads to turnovers. We can’t throw away possessions.  They are still a division one basketball team. They would be a quality opponent in our league. If we hope to be a quality opponent in our league we can’t do that.” The WolfPack don’t have another exhibition game until October 13 th when they entertain the Seattle Mountaineers –a team made up of former NCAA Division I players.  Their home and season opener in the Canada West doesn’t come up until November 2^nd when they entertain one of the newest teams in the league—the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves at the Tournament Capital Centre. Tip off is 8 pm.