LANGLEY, B.C. – Daniel Stead (Langley) had a career-high 27 points while fifth-year Jack Nadelhoffer (Tigard, Ore.) added 21 points on Senior Athlete Appreciation Night as the Spartans fell 92-81 to Victoria to close out the 2019-20 season Saturday at the Langley Events Centre.
 
Stead led the Spartans with 27 points, including hitting six of seven from 3-point range. Nadelhoffer meanwhile had a double-double in his last game for TWU, chipping in with 12 rebounds alongside his 21 points. Fellow fifth-year and Spartans guard Ethan DaSilva (Calgary) had five rebounds and five assists. 
 
Diego Maffia led the Vikes attack with 20 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Trent Monkman, Hayden Lejeune, and Scott Kellum each added five boards for Victoria.
 
After the Vikes opened by scoring the first three baskets of the game, TWU came back to tie it up at 8-8. The Spartans shooting however would go cold, as Victoria ended the quarter on a 16-5 run to take a 24-13 lead. Nadelhoffer led the Spartans with four points and four rebounds in the quarter, while Maffia had five first quarter points alongside three rebounds for the Vikes.
 
Maffia added back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the second quarter to give the Vikes their biggest lead at the time at 42-24. TWU would then go on an 11-7 run led by six points from Nadelhoffer as they entered the half down 49-35. Maffia went 3 for 4 (75%) from 3-point range in the quarter, while Nadelhoffer added 10 more points and three rebounds.
 
Stead then took over offensively for TWU in the third, scoring 12 of the Spartans 23 points, which included hitting all three of his 3-point attempts. Aaron Tesfagiorgis added nine third quarter points for the Vikes, as they led 72-58 heading into the final quarter.
 
The Spartans then brought the game to within reach in the fourth, after a Stead 3-pointer put TWU down just nine at 85-76. Both teams would trade points for the rest of the quarter, as the Vikes held on for the 91-82 win. 
 
TWU shot 48% (28-59) from the field, while Victoria shot 45% (34-76).

QUOTABLE
Trevor Pridie – TWU Head Coach
 
"That was a typical game for us. We were in it most of the way, had a chance throughout, then they made a run and we just couldn't get over the late hump. It was great to see Stead have a great game for us tonight. He's been awesome all year and keeps finding ways to get better. I'm really proud of our seniors Jack and Ethan, too. There was a nice crowd supporting them tonight so that was great to see.
 
"We've been limited to about seven guys for the past three weeks and that's tough to overcome, especially this late in the season when a lot of guys are worn out and banged up. With that said a lot of those guys are back next year and these last few weeks have been great experience for them."

NOTABLE

• Stead's previous career-high for points sat at 12, which was set against Fraser Valley earlier this season on Jan. 16. 
• TWU was coming off a 71-61 loss to the Vikes on Friday night. Their last win over Victoria came Nov. 29, 2013 at home (60-57).
• Victoria held a 42-35 edge on the glass.

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey and as an independent team in men's rugby. The men's and women's hockey programs will begin playing in Canada West and U SPORTS in 2020-21. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.
 
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