LANGLEY, British Columbia– Led by fourth-year guard David Mutabazi's (Delta, B.C.) double-double of 23 points, and 10 rebounds the Trinity Western Spartans defeated the visiting UNBC Timberwolves 76-66 Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The win moves the Spartans to 9-8, while the loss drops the Timberwolves to 1-16.
 
Fourth-year centre Connor Platz (Langley, B.C.) with 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists, fifth-year guard Josh Belvin (Long Beach, Calf.) with 16 points, seven rebounds, and five steals, and fifth-year guard Jerric Palma (Richmond, B.C.) with 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists also hit double-digit scoring for the Spartans. Evgeny Baukin with 20 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, Josh Gillespie with 17 points, and Isaiah Bias with 12 points, and six rebounds led the Timberwolves.  
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will finish the two-game series with the Timberwolves tomorrow night at the Langley Events Centre. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. m (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Trevor Pridie
"It wasn't pretty tonight. The game didn't have a lot of flow, and we weren't sharp but a win is a win. Excited for senior night tomorrow and to celebrate two great players in Juice and Jerric."
 
"Was great to see Juice break the Spartan single-season steal record tonight. He has had a great year."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans and Timberwolves both struggled to find the basket in the opening quarter which saw the teams tied at 15-15 after 10 minutes of play. TWU only shot 33.3 percent (7-21) from the field, while UNBC only managed to shoot 31.3 percent (5-16).  
 
TWU came out strong to start the second quarter and after a Connor Platz three-point basket led 29-18 with five minutes remaining in the quarter. But the Timberwolves closed the quarter with a 12-4 to trail by three points, 33-30, heading into the second half. In the first half the Spartans shot 39.4 percent (26-66) from the field, 22.7 percent (5-22) from the three-point line, and 76.5 percent (13-17) from the foul line. The Timberwolves shot 30.6 percent (19-62), 19.2 percent (5-26), and 90.0 percent (20-22) respectively.
 
The Spartans started the second half with a 15-10 run to extend their lead to eight points, 48-40 after a Josh Belvin lay-up with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter. Again, the Timberwolves closed out the quarter well with a 10-8 run to trail 56-50 after 30 minutes of play.
 
With 5:30 to go in the game UNBC's Isaiah Bias made a bucket and foul shot to cut the TWU lead to four points, 64-60. The lead remained the same at 68-64 when TWU scored eight straight points to take a 76-64 lead after two Mutabazi free throws with 2:30 remaining. The Timberwolves were unable to close the gap as finished the game with the 10 point win.
 
NOTABLE 

• The Spartans finished the night shooting 39.7 percent (31-78) from the field, 27.3 percent (6-22) from the three-point line, and 66.7 percent (8-12) from the foul line. The Timberwolves shot 41.9 percent (20-39), 26.1 percent (6-23), and 53.3 percent (8-15) respectively.
• The Spartans had a 46-38 edge in rebounding.
• TWU finished with 14 steals to UNBC's 12. The Spartans had 15 turnovers to the Timberwolves had 18.
• On January 18 in Prince George the Spartans defeated the Timberwolves 75-57.
• TWU is currently on a three-game winning streak against UNBC.
• The Spartans are currently 8-13 lifetime against the Timberwolves.
• Last week the Spartans split with the UBC Thunderbirds winning 83-68 on Friday night and losing 79-59 on Saturday night.
• Last week the Timberwolves lost twice, 90-7, and 94-65, to the Fraser Valley Cascades.
• With his five steals Belvin no has 62 in the season breaking the TWU single-season steal record of 60, which was held by Mark Perrin 2012-13. Belvin is now alone in 11 spot on the Canada West single-season steals record book.
• Mutubazi's 10 rebounds put him at 445 career rebounds, passing former Spartan Logan Kitteringham (05) at 440 for third spot on the TWU career rebounding list.
• Connor Platz is currently first in Canada West and second in U SPORTS for career blocks per game with 2.6. Trailing only Lakehead's Lock Lam ('20) who averaged 2.8.
• Platz is tied for fourth in Canada West and sixth in U SPORTS for total career blocks with 166. Platz trails former TimberWolf Greg Stewart ('11) by eight blocks,174, for second spot in CW and fourth in U SPORTS.

 
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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