HALIFAX – With a three-point basket with 11.6 seconds remaining, Trinity Western fourth year forward Kyle Coston led the Spartans to a thrilling 74-72 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds in the CIS national championship semi-final Saturday night at the Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Coston, who scord 20 second half points, would finish the night leading all scorers with 23 points.
 
In addition to Coston the Spartans also had strong performances from forward Jacob Doerksen with 16 points and five rebounds and guard Calvin Wesxtbrook with 15 points, three assists, three steals and three rebounds.
 
Alex Murphy with 21 points, Kamar Burke with 13 points and 15 rebounds and Josh Whyte with 12 points led the Thunderbirds in the losing cause.
 
The Thunderbirds were the stronger team in the first half as the led 22-12 after the first quarter and 39-30 at the end of 20 minutes. The Spartans came out of the second half and played one of their better quarters of the tournament as they outscored the Thunderbirds 23-12 to take a 53-51 lead heading into the final frame.
 
Both teams exchanged leads over the final quarter. TWU's Coston scored a midrange jumper to give the Spartans a 71-70 lead with just over one minute to play. With :39 seconds remaining Coston had a chance to extend TWU's lead, but he failed on two free-throw attempts. With :19 seconds left UBC's Kamar Burke gave the Thunderbirds a one point lead, 72-71, after converting on a driving layup. Six seconds later Coston would make up for the missed free-throws by hitting an open three-point basket from the right site to put TWU up 74-72. Burke's three point attempt at the buzzer would miss as TWU held onto the thrilling two point victory.
 
The Spartans will now face off against defending national champion Carlton University in Sunday's national championship game. The game will be TWU's first national championship appearance.
 
Game Notes: TWU finished the night shooting 43 percent (28-56) from the field, 20 percent (4-20) from the three point line and 63.6 percent (14-22) from the foul line. While UBC finished shooting 25.3 percent (24-68), 28.6 percent (6-21) and 85.7 percent (18-21) respectively. The Spartans had the edge in rebounding 50-41 over the Thunderbirds. While each team finished with four steals and two blocks… Sunday's championship will be broadcast live on TSN… tonight's victory was TWU's first over UBC since January 8, 2009 when the Spartans defeated the Thunderbirds 87-78 in Langley, B.C.
 
-TW-