-The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack got a 28 point performance from fifth year forward Joe Davis (Kamloops, BC) as swept the visiting Trinity Western University Spartans in the opening weekend of the Canada West men's basketball league.

The score on Saturday night (Nov 2) was 85-70 as the Pack extended Trinity Western's losing streak to 23. 

Davis' 28 points wasn't the highest by a player in this game.  Trinity's Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath (4^th year, guard, Amarillo, TX) had 31 in a losing cause for a team who hasn't won a game since Feburary 3, 2018.

Anton Bilous (5^th year, guard, Cerkassy, Ukraine) had 19 points for the Pack while Tyus DeVries (3^rd year, guard, Chilliwack, BC) added 15.
The only other Spartan player in double figures was Gabe Mannes (2^nd year, guard, Chilliwack, BC) who had 17.
TRU led 18-15 after the first quarter and 36-33 at the half.

 SYNOPSIS

The WolfPack came out of the gate quickly and at one point in the first quarter led by 14 before the Spartans reduced the deficit to 3 (18-15) by the end of that period.  Gilbreath had 10 points for Trinity in that first 10 minute span including a buzzer beater.   Davis and Bilous had eight points a piece for TRU who outrebounded the Spartans 13-7.

That buzzer beater helped spur on the Spartans as they eventually took the lead with 4:47 left in the second thanks in part to a 12-0 run to lead 27-26
 before the Pack rebounded to lead by three –36-33 at the half.  Gilbreath had nine points for Trinity in that second stanza to give him 19 on the night at that point. Davis led TRU with 14 at the half while Bilous accumulated 10 in a quarter where TRU turned over the ball six times to Trinity's four.

The WolfPack started to dominate the Spartans in the paint in the third quarter and it resulted in a 14 point advantage for the home side at the three quarter mark as TRU held a 59-43 lead.  The Pack limiting Gilbreath to only four points in the period.

Thompson Rivers outrebounded Trinity Western 50-28 on the night.  Davis was "The Den" Leader of the Pack" player of the match.
 
 
 
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
https://youtu.be/PXRmQ7K44Hc
 
THEY SAID IT! (post game interviews):
 
TRU Head Coach Scott Clark (10^th year):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1190859959405137921 
 
Trinity Western head coach Trevor Pridie (1^st year):
 
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1190859863292665856
 
TRU player Joe Davis (5^th year, forward, Kamloops, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1190859830992363522 
 
 
 
NEXT UP: The WolfPack will be on the road next weekend (Feb 8-9) as they meet up with the Heat at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna, BC.  Its is the latest installment of the "President's Cup" series between the two schools.  The WolfPack got a win and a tie in men's soccer but UBCO captured the men's cross country showdown.

The Spartans will return to Langley, BC for their home opener against the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves next Friday and Saturday.
Next home game for the WolfPack will be against UNBC.  That will be the weekend of November 22-23^rd. It's the last time in the 2019 calendar year the Pack will be at home.