LANGLEY, British Columbia – Fifth-year forward Connor Platz (Langley, B.C.) now sits atop the Canada West block record book with 199 career blocks. Platz and the Spartans 18 made three-point shots, were the difference, as the Trinity Western Spartans defeated the UBC Okanagan Heat 105-62 Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The win improves the Spartans to 3-6, with the loss dropping the Heat to 3-6.
 
TWU's 18 made three-point baskets are the third most three-point baskets made in TWU history. The Spartans' 105 points tie for the ninth-most in TWU history and are the most since 107 against the Calgary Dinos on January 7, 2012.
 
Fourth-year guard Marcus Shankar (Campbell River, B.C.) with 20 points and six assists, third-year guard Jack Vandenberg (Vancouver, B.C.) with 18 points, and third-year guard Pears Long (Temecula, Calif.) with 12 points led the Spartans. Fourth-year guard Tyus DeVries (Chilliwack, B.C.) led the Spartans with 11 rebounds to go with eight points. Platz finished the night with 10 rebounds, seven points, four assists, and three blocked shots.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans and Heat will match up again tomorrow night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. Game time is set for 4 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
Trevor Pridie, TWU Head Coach
"Thought we got back to playing our style of basketball tonight. Obviously, we got hot and shot the ball extremely well, but when you make 18 threes and 24 assists, it shows how connected we were. That's the kind of basketball we want to play."
 
On Connor Platz's night
"I'm proud of our group tonight, but especially of Connor Platz. Setting the Canada West all-time blocks record is an unbelievable accomplishment. Witnessing Connor's growth during his time with us at TWU has been special. His presence anchors our defense and gives our whole team confidence."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans were the better team in each quarter throughout the contest. TWU led UBCO 25-17 after the first quarter and 56-42 at the half. The Spartans broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Heat 29-12 to lead 85-54 heading into the final 10 minutes. The Spartans again outscored the Heat, 20-8, to make the final 105-62.
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans finished the night shooting 47.4 percent (37-78) from the field, 43.9 percent (18-41) from the three-point line, and 68.4 percent (13-19) from the foul line, while UBC Okanagan shot 32.1 percent (26-81), 17.1 percent (6-35) and 40 percent (4-10) respectively.
• TWU had a 60-42 edge in rebounds, 14-10 in steals, and 24-11 in assists.
• TWU is currently 18-6 lifetime against the UBC Okanagan Heat.
• Last year in conference play, the Spartans won two of three. TWU's last win against UBC Okanagan was 98-87 on January 23 at home in Langley, B.C.
• TWU's record for points in a game is 128, which was set against UBC on October 27, 2006.
• The Spartan record for three-point field goals is 20, which was set against Fraser Valley on December 4, 2010.
• TWU fifth-year centre Connor Platz (Langley, B.C.) currently has 199 career blocked shots, breaking the Canada West record of 197, which was held by former Manitoba Bison Myron Dean (09). Platz is currently 13 blocks away from the U SPORTS record of 212 held by York's Stefan Haynes (11).
• Platz is currently second in U SPORTS in career blocks per game at 2.6, trailing Lakehead's Lock Lam's (20) 2.8 blocks per game.
• This season, Platz is averaging 3.4 blocks per game, which is seventh in U SPORTS history for blocks per game in a season. In 2023-24, Platz averaged 3.5 blocks per game. Which was tied for the third most in U SPORTS history.

 
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.  
 
-TW-