LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans had to battle injuries and the visiting Victoria Vikes Thursday night. It proved to be too much as the Spartans were unable to overcome the Vikes and fell 99-69 on opening night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.
 
The Spartans had to play most of the game without the presence of third-year centre Connor Platz (Langley, B.C.) who had to leave the game eight minutes into the contest.
 
The Spartans were even with the Vikes early and trailed by six points, 28-22, at the end of the opening quarter. But the undermanned Spartans were not able to match the Vikes as they trailed 53-32 at the half and were unable to mount a late comeback.
 
Fifth-year guard Josh Belvin (Long Beach, Calf.) with 18 points, six rebounds, and four steals, fifth-year guard Jerric Palma (Richmond, B.C.) with 16 points, and fourth-year guard David Mutabazi (Delta, B.C.) with 13 points, and eight rebounds led the Spartans. While Renoldo Robinson with 25 points, and nine rebounds, and Diego Maffia with 15 points, five assists, and four rebounds led the Vikes.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will have a day off before traveling to face the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday night. Game time at War Memorial Gym is set for 6 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.

QUOTABLE
TWU head coach Trevor Pridie
"We had a great start and were executing well and then when Connor went down that was a huge turning point in the game. Victoria is the number one  team in country and they are very good, they have incredible depth which hurt us tonight. We have to find a way to play a full game and not have these lapses. We had a couple really bad stretches to end quarters, and Victoria took advantage and blew the game open in those stretches."

NOTABLE 

• Trinity Western finished the night shooting 40.0 percent (24-60) from the field, 17.4 percent (4-23) from three-point line, and 81.0 percent (17-21) from the foul line, while Victoria shot 53.5 percent (38-71), 34.5 percent (10-29), and 86.7 percent (13-15) respectively.
• Victoria had the edge in rebounding 41-30.
• The Spartans had the better of the Vikes in steals 10-8, while the Vikes had the better in turnovers 16-20.
• TWU also had the advantage in fast break points 18-11, while Victoria had the better in second chance points, 11-5.
• The Spartans are ranked No. 9 in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll, while the Victoria Vikes are ranked No. 1.
• The Spartans finished their preseason at 3-2, while Victoria finished at 3-0.
• The Spartans are currently 21-48 lifetime against the Vikes. TWU was 1-1 last season in conference play against Victoria winning 92-85 in OT and losing 93-89 at home.

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 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in U SPORTS. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
 
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