Brandon, MB—Defense was put on the back burner as the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack and the Brandon University Bobcats opened up their best of three Canada West men’s basketball play in series.
The hometown Bobcats took the opener 101-97 on Friday night (Feb 17)at the Healthy Living Centre.
SYNOPSIS:
The WolfPack were down 48-40 at the half but outscored the Bobcats 30-25 in the third quarter. That included going on an 18-3 run.
TRU’s main scorer was Volodymyr Iegorov (5th year, forward, Donetsk, Ukraine) with 29 points. Joe Davis (2nd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) added 24.
Brandon had five players in double figures led by Tyvon Cooper with 30. Earl Thompson Junior added 20.
KEY STATS:
THOMPSON RIVERS
Volodymyr Iegorov: 29 points 5 rebounds (all defense), 3 steals, 3 assists in 40 minutes
Joe Davis: 24 points, 7 rebounds (5 on offense), 2 assists, 1 steal in 34 minutes
Derek Rhodes: 17 points, 2 assists in 30 minutes
Luke Morris: 12 points, 4 rebounds (all defense), 1 block in 14 minutes
Mike Rouault: 8 points, 14 rebounds (10 on defense), 3 steals, 1 assist in 32 minutes
BRANDON:
Tyvon Cooper: 30 points, 8 rebounds (all defense), 2 assists, 1 steal in 39 minutes
Earl Thompson Junior: 20 points, 6 rebounds (5 on defense), 3 steal, 6 assists, 1 block in 31 minutes
Pookie Saunders: 14 points, 5 rebounds (all defense), 7 assists, 5 steals in 34 minutes
John Paul: 11 points, 10 rebounds (7 on defense), 2 blocks in 26 minutes
Chris Stanhope: 10 points, 2 assists, 1 rebounds in 24 minutes.
SCORES BY PERIOD:
BRANDON 29 19 25 28
TRU 23 17 30 27
TURNOVERS:
Brandon 16 TRU 15
REBOUNDS:
Brandon 39 TRU 36
STEALS:
Brandon 11 TRU 9
POINTS IN THE PAINT:
Brandon 42 TRU 38
QUOTES:
WolfPack Head Coach Scott Clark
“It was a poor defensive effort. We scored OK in the fourth quarter but you can’t do that and just hope that defense takes care of itself. Its like rolling the dice. Our level of concentration wasn’t good.”
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats and WolfPack will play game two tomorrow, Saturday night (Feb 18) in Brandon. Tipoff is 7 pm MDT. IF a third and deciding game is needed, it will be held Sunday night at 7 pm.
