LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western's
Josh Belvin donned his cape and played superhero Saturday night, hitting a game-winning buzzer beater from halfcourt to lift the Spartans to a 70-67 win over Thompson Rivers Saturday at the Langley Events Centre.
With the score tied 67-67, TRU's attempt at a would-be game-winner with five seconds to play was blocked and then gathered by
Aristote Kalala, who passed it to Belvin to set up the late-game heroics.
From well inside the Spartans half, Belvin launched the game-winning shot that sent the Spartan Faithful into delirium.
With their third straight win, the Spartans improve to 3-5, while the loss drops TRU to 3-5.
Belvin finished the night with 13 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
Jerric Palma had a team-high 17 points and six boards, while three Spartans had 10 points apiece, including
David Mutabazi,
Marcus Shankar and Kalala.
Cyrus Harrison had a team-high 17 points for the WolfPack, while Dami Farinloye had 13 points.
Both teams shot 40.4 per cent from the field, with both sides going 23 for 57 from the field.
After a close first quarter in which TWU finished with a one-point lead, 21-20, the Spartans outscored TRU 19-10 in the second frame to take a 40-30 lead into halftime. Palma led TWU with 10 first-half points.
The third quarter was a different story, with TRU closing the gap and getting within three points, 57-54, going to the final frame. TRU's Harrison had seven points in the third quarter to lead the visitors.
In the fourth, Palma hit a three-pointer to give TWU a 63-61 lead with five minutes to play. Then, with TWU trailing by two in the late stages, Kalala threw down a dunk to tie the game 67-67, setting the stage for Belvin's game-winning shot.
NEXT UP
The Spartans will host UFV Friday, Nov. 29 at TWU's annual Home Court game at the on-campus David E. Enarson Gym.
NOTABLE
• After dropping five in a row to open the season, TWU has now earned three straight wins.
• TWU is now 26-13 all-time against TRU and have won eight of their last nine meetings.
• TWU once again played without injured
Connor Platz.
• The last time TWU played in the David E. Enarson Gym, the Spartans hung step for step with then No. 1-ranked Victoria, losing 93-89. Prior to that, their previous game in the Enarson saw TWU beat UBC 96-94.
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 and women's and men's disc golf. 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 CIS 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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