LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans dropped a 59-47 decision to the visiting Queen's Gaels Thursday evening at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The loss drops the Spartans to 1-2 in preseason play, while the win is the first of the year for Queen's.
 
TWU led by eight points, 32-24 at the half.
 
The Spartans had a solid start to the game, leading by 10 points, 18-8, at the end of the opening quarter. The two teams played evenly through the remainder of the half with TWU leading by eight points, 32-24, at halftime.
 
The Gaels came out strong to start the second half and used a 14-5 run to take their first lead of the game, 38-37, with 3:53 remaining in the third quarter. Queen's continued to play well for the remainder of the quarter to take a four-point, 44-40, lead into the final 10 minutes. The Spartans were unable to close ground to start the fourth quarter and trailed the Gaels by six points, 51-45, heading into the final five minutes. The Queens continued to have control of the play down the stretch to earn the 12-point win.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now head to Calgary for the Mount Royal tournament. TWU will open with the MRU Cougars on Thursday, October 9. Game time at Kenyon Court at MRU is set for 8 p.m. (MT). TWU will follow with the Regina Cougars at 2 p.m. (MT) on Friday, and the MacEwan Griffins at 2 p.m. (MT) on Saturday.  TWU opens Canada West conference play on Friday, October 24, against the Victoria Vikes in Victoria, B.C.
 
NOTABLE

• TWU is currently 2-2 lifetime against the Gaels. Their last meeting was Oct. 18, 2014, when TWU lost 74-70 in Langley, B.C.

 
 
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, hockey and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as in the NAIA in track and field and cross country and 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 33 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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