CALGARY – Trinity Western's exciting 2021-22 season came to a close on Saturday night after falling 105-81 to the No. 10 ranked Regina Cougars in the Canada West quarterfinals held at the Jack Simpson Gym.
 
Once again, Mason Bourcier (Kelowna, B.C.) highlighted TWU's final match of the season, putting together his third consecutive triple-double by scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
 
Saturday now stands as Andrew Goertzen (Langley, B.C.) and Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath's (Amarillo, Texas) final game in a Spartans uniform. Gilbreath, the nation's leading scorer at 27.7 points per game, played a vital role in what was a transformative season for TWU's men's basketball program. Goertzen, a bonified leader and key role player for the team, threw down 14 points and eight rebounds in his final match as a Spartan.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
A stretch of shooting woes struck the Spartans after an incredible night of shooting on Friday (102-92 W vs. Calgary) as the team shot 4-16 from the field with only two of nine attempts from 3-point range falling. The quarter rolled to a 31-14 close in favour of the Cougars.
 
With TWU's shot at a Canada West Final Four berth on the line, the shooting woes continued against a stingy Regina defence, forcing the Spartans into going 5-22 from the field for a shooting percentage of 22.7. Once again, the second quarter tilted in favour of the Cougars, outscoring TWU 24-17 to take a commanding 55-31 lead at the half.
 
After shooting only 23.7 percent in the first half of action, the Spartans did their best to inch closer to the Cougars, but the Cougars stuck out their foot, outscoring TWU 26-20 in the third quarter.
 
Bourcier and the Spartans did their best to rally back from a substantial deficit in the fourth, but the game was too far gone for TWU to make any magic work. 12 of TWU's 30 points came from Bourcier as they put together their best offensive quarter, outscoring Regina 30-24 on 64.7 percent shooting.
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.
 
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