KAMLOOPS – They led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter but an offensive slump through the middle of the game sunk the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's basketball team's chances in a close 79-70 loss to the UFV Cascades in Abbotsford.
TRU led for over half the game and got 22 points off their bench, but scoring just 25 points throughout the middle two quarters allowed the Cascades to mount the comeback.
For the second night in a row
Asher Mayan paced the 'Pack with 16 points, the third-year guard added 11 rebounds to collect the double-double. Rookie
Cyrus Harrison went 6-11 from the floor for 14 points and
Denys Bachurin scored 13 in his 24 minutes of action.
Courtenay Anderson exploded for 28 points for Fraser Valley while Dylan Kinley added 17 and Chris Jackson 15.
Everything was falling for the 'Pack early. They shot 58 per cent from the floor and forced UFV into seven turnover en route to jumping out to the early lead. Harrison had seven points in the first three minutes of play and a
Daniel Bost jumper halfway through the opening frame allowed TRU to take a 17-4 edge. The Cascades found an answer however and a 14-8 UFV run to end the first made the score just 25-18 after the opening ten minutes.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter and despite the Cascades chipping into the WolfPack's lead the hosts were unable to tie the score with the 'Pack holding a 37-34 lead at the halftime break.
The Cascades came out gunning to start the third. They embarked on and 18-7 run through the opening six minutes of play and turned what was a three-point deficit all the way into an eight-point advantage. TRU's
Simon Crossfield ended the third quarter scoring the final six points between both teams to make things close going into the fourth and final frame at 52-50 in favour of the hosts.
UFV found their groove in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Fraser Valley knocked down 58 per cent of their shots in the quarter and scored 27 points over the final ten minutes to pull away with the victory.
Now holding a record of 5-9, the WolfPack find themselves in a three-way tie for 11th in the conference with only 12 teams making the postseason. The 'Pack will be back in action next weekend when they host the UVic Vikes inside the TCC.
