KAMLOOPS – An offensive explosion propelled the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's basketball team to a dominant 99-61 victory over the MacEwan Griffins Saturday night in the TCC.

The WolfPack were clinical on offence, shooting over 63 per cent from the field as a team while diligent on defence, causing 14 turnovers. 

 "We wanted to come out with a strong intensity and send them home early," said fourth-year WolfPack guard Daniel Bost. "The guys were going to the basket, not settling for jump shots, not settling for threes and just continuously attacking."

Bost (19 points), Tyler Schilling (11), Ree Compton (8) and Reuben Wright (8) all set new career marks for the 'Pack while the 99 points TRU scored was their most since they hit 102 in a win over Mount Royal back in January of 2020.

With the win, the WolfPack go into the semester break with a record of 3-5 and on a three-game winning streak. 

"We got life, we got hope and we have a chance," Bost says about their recent form. "As long as we do what we want to do and execute at game time, we'll be right where we want to be at the end of the season." 

Five WolfPack athletes scored in double digits. Bost led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds. Asher Mayan had 17 points to go with six rebounds, while Cyrus Harrison scored 15 points, shooting an astounding 75 per cent from the field, paired with six rebounds. Schilling and Denys Bachurin had 11 and 10 points respectively.

The Griffins found their offence through Milan Jaksic who had a team-high 13 points and seven rebounds while Taylor Cook contributed 12 points and five rebounds. Job Janda rounded out the Griffins' athletes who hit double digits for points with 10 to go along with eight rebounds.

The WolfPack came out flying in this game, scoring the first twelve points of the game thanks in large part to eight from Crossfield. Harrison contributed to the lead with eight points of his own. Along with solid defence that forced five turnovers, six WolfPack athletes got themselves on the score sheet to help the 'Pack out to huge 24-point lead by the end of the first. The 35 points TRU scored in the opening frame was the most they've scored in a quarter this season by a large amount.

Bost came to life in the second, scoring 10 points in the quarter. Scottie Austin kept the Griffins in the game with six points in the frame, but the WolfPack offence continued to score as Schilling contributed with six points to help TRU finished the half with a massive 61-32 edge.
 
The offence for the WolfPack continued to fire after the half-time break. Bost kept his hot form with another nine points. The Griffins kept themselves in the game through seven points from Taylor Cook, including two from beyond-the-arc and four points from Damilola Osuma.

Strong defence kept both teams at bay to start the final quarter as both teams only scored a combined eight points up until four minutes left in the game. The WolfPack were able to easily see out the game and capped off the night with a massive dunk from Compton in the final moments of the game. 

The WolfPack head into the semester break on a three-game winning streak and holding a record of 3-5. MacEwan will continue to search for their first victory of the season with a record of 0-10.