LANGLEY, British Columbia – Looking for its first win of the season, the Trinity Western men's basketball team came up just short, losing 88-83 to Lethbridge Friday at the Langley Events Centre.

With just under a minute left, TWU's Taylor Heinrichs (Port Moody, B.C.) dropped a 3-pointer to get the Spartans within one point, at 83-82, but the visiting Pronghorns responded with the game's final five points to improve to 3-2 on the season.

Heinrichs had a chance for a game-tying 3-pointer with 24 seconds left but was unable to get it to fall as the Spartans lost for the third straight time on home court and dropped to 0-5 on the season.

"It was a lack of execution on our part," said Spartans coach Scott Allen. "They got the shots they wanted at the end of the game and executed while we didn't even really give ourselves opportunities to get the shots we needed. Decision-making was a big part. We've worked hard enough to be successful but I think it's a mental game now. We have to become stronger and do it quickly because we're digging ourselves into a really big hole and we have a tough schedule ahead."

TWU opened the game with the first 11 points and were up 23-17 after the first quarter, but from there Lethbridge won each of the final three quarters to move back above .500.

Despite a career-high 27-point night from Justin Bakuteka (Toronto) and four other Spartans earning double-digit point totals, TWU was unable to finish down the stretch, losing in what was its closest game of the year.

"It's turnovers at the end of the game," Allen said. "They didn't turn the ball over at the end of the game. That's the result we deserved today as far as I'm concerned."

Heinrichs added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Spartans while Kelvin Smith (Los Angeles) had 12 points and Denny McDonald (Mississauga, Ont.) and Jesse Jeffers (North Vancouver, B.C.) each had 10.

The Pronghorns were led by Rob Olsen, who had 22 points, and Brandon Brine, who finished with 19 points. Brent Watkins added 15 points and nine rebounds.

As a team, the Pronghorns shot 50.8 per cent from the field compared to TWU's 43.8 per cent. Lethbridge also went 19 for 23 from the free throw line while the Spartans were only eight for 11.

The Spartans got off to their best start of the season as they led after the opening quarter for the first time all year. TWU raced out to a 19-9 lead and then held on for a 23-17 edge after 10 minutes.

But with momentum on their side after finishing the first quarter on a 12-4 run, Lethbridge kept rolling in the second quarter and tied the game at 27-27. From there, the teams traded points until halftime, as they went into the break tied 35-35.

In the third quarter, Lethbridge opened a four-point lead, going up 65-61 heading into the final 10 minutes.

The fourth quarter was back and forth, but in the late stages it was Lethbridge holding the Spartans down. Bakuteka put TWU ahead with back-to-back layups, at 72-69, but the Pronghorns came back with an 11-2 run that gave the visitors the lead for good. TWU closed to within one point on two occasions thanks to Heinrichs, at 80-79, and again, at 83-82, but the Spartans were unable to draw even.

The Spartans and Pronghorns return to the court Saturday at 7 p.m. at the LEC.

Game Notes: Lethbridge, who averaged 24 turnovers per game coming into the weekend, had just 17 turnovers…TWU had 19 turnovers…TWU out-rebounded the Pronghorns 38-35…on Saturday, the Spartans will look to avoid the dubious distinction of being the first TWU men's basketball team to open a Canada West season with six straight losses.

-TW-