WINNIPEG – The Thompson Rivers Wolfpack out-scored the Alberta Golden Bears 24-14 in the final quarter, breaking a five-point lead wide open in a 78-63 play-in game victory. They advance to the Canada West quarterfinals against host Manitoba (the No. 2 seed in the playoffs) tomorrow at 7 pm.
 
Home-town kid Dami Farinloye – a provincial champion with the Vincent Massey Trojans – made his return to Winnipeg and was big for TRU, scoring 15 points, tied for the team lead. He added six rebounds and four assists.
 
Sixteen different players scored in the contest, with four TRU players in double figures. The Golden Bears were led by Isaac Simon, who put up a game-high 25.
 
No other Alberta player finished in double figures however, as the Wolfpack led for most of the game.
 
"Credit to Thompson Rivers. They were the better team," said Simon.
 
"They have a lot of fourth and fifth-year guys. They stepped up and made shots when they needed to. They executed, and went on a run at the end and were able to pull away."
 
The Wolfpaclk took an 8-0 lead on two quick threes in the first two minutes from Denys Bachurin (15 points) and Cyrus Harris (scored eight of his nine in the first quarter), and the Golden Bears were forced to play catch-up from there.
 
Alberta took their first and only lead of the game just under three minutes into the third, at 39-37 following a Simon steal, which he finished at the rim, plus the harm. An Ethan Egert mid-range jumper expanded Alberta's lead to 41-37, and it was back-and-forth from there.
 
Caiden Kushnir recorded his third block of the game for Alberta, leading to an Egert bucket, but the Wolfpack went on a late run, and took a 52-46 lead into the fourth following a 6-0 finish in the final minute, capped by a Farinloye layup.
 
Simon Crossfield, who had team-leading six assists, made an incredible pass to Erin Chamble, between the legs of Alberta defender shortly after. It was part of an 8-0 run late for the Wolfpack, who tightened up on D, and secured the 15-point win.
 
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