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ShareFirst CIS win comes in Surrey
Published: September 04, 2008 11:00 AMUpdated: September 04, 2008 11:43 AM
Scott Allen’s first win as a college basketball coach came, ironically enough, on the high school court he rarely lost on.
Allen’s Trinity Western University Spartans men’s hoops team won Monday, 95-83 against Colorado State University in an exhibition tilt at White Rock Christian Academy.
Allen left WRCA this spring – where he was athletic director and senior boys hoops coach – after 17 years at the high school level.
In addition to being Allen’s first win since joining the Langley university, the victory was also TWU’s first ever against an NCAA Div. 1 school.
Allen downplayed the significance of his first collegiate victory, instead deflecting praise onto his team.
“It’s not that big of a deal for me personally. For me, my dream has always been just to coach against a Div. 1 team, and now I’ve been able to do that,” he said.
“But to get a win, it’s important for the players. They’ve worked extremely hard the last five months, so it’s good for them to see some results.”
Trinity lost in its previous two games against NCAA competition this season, losing 81-75 to the Tulsa Hurricanes – who are ranked among the NCAA’s top 50 this year and feature a pair of pro prospects – and also dropping a 108-73 game to Cal State-Fullerton.
“Against (Cal State), we just sort of tanked. It was my first game, and the first game we played under my new system,” explained Allen, who still lives in South Surrey.
“But on Monday (against Colorado), I really thought we took it to them. We were up by 20 at one point, then decided to empty the bench and get everybody into the game.”
Forward Jacob Doerksen of Abbotsford – one of Allen’s prize recruits – led the Spartans with 33 points and seven rebounds, while Jamie Vaughan chipped in with 17 points.
The Spartans’ league schedule doesn’t begin until Oct. 24, when they host Simon Fraser University.
sports@peacearchnews.com
