Rebounding and foul shots proved to be the difference as the Trinity Western University men's basketball team fell 8872 to the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades Saturday night at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

The win improves the Cascades to 10-5, while the loss drops the Spartans to 8-7.

"Fraser Valley is a good defensive team and they took us out of our rhythm on offense. We have been playing some weaker teams and have been able to get away with poor execution. But we know that it is something that we have to work on and get cleaned up," TWU head coach Scott Allen said. "They also attacked us off the dribble and forced us into fouling situations. We lost on the free throw line and on offensive rebounding, which were two of our keys. But we had more shots and a higher shooting percentage, and other than the first quarter, we played them even for most of the game."

The hometown Cascades dominated the free throw line on the Spartans.

UFV would get more than a third of its points from the line, as it finished 32-37. Meanwhile, TWU would finish the night 713 from the charity stripe.

The Cascades also held the advantage in rebounding as they ended the night pulling down 10 more boards, 39-29, then the Spartans.

After a poor first quarter, which had TWU trailing 19-7, the Spartans got things going in the second and third frames.

TWU outscored the Cascades 45-42 in the two quarters, but it was not enough to overcome the double-digit deficit that was opened up in the first quarter.

After falling behind by as many as 19 points, 46-27, in the third quarter, TWU was able to rally in the final minutes of the quarter to cut the lead to seven points, 59-52, and eventually entered the final frame trailing 61-52. But it was as close as TWU would get as UFV held off the Spartans in the final quarter to secure the 16-point victory.

Calvin Westbrook with 21 points and Tristan Smith with 12 points and six assists led the Spartans in a losing effort.

Next up for the Spartans is a three-game homestand to finish the CW conference season. TWU will host Thompson Rivers Friday and Saturday (Feb. 3-4).

Game times are 8 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday.