The University of Calgary Dinos fought off a hard charging University of Winnipeg Wesmen team and came away with an 87-82 victory Saturday afternoon in the Dr. David F. Anderson Gymnasium in Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon.
Calgary (2-0) went into the fourth quarter with a 63-43 lead and had to fight off a Wesmen team that cut the lead to one at 83-82 with 33 seconds to play.
It was a total team effort for the Dinos with four of five starters figuring in double digits. Philip Barndt led the Dinos with a game high 24 points. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson added 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Dallas Karch and Lars Schlueter each added 14 points.
Winnipeg (0-2) was led by third year guard Jamar Farley's 22 points, including six-three pointers. Mark McNee finished with 20. Christopher Baxter and Jelane Pryce added 13 and 10 respectively. Guard Jordan Clennon dished out 14 assists.
Calgary had the early momentum early on leading 21-15 after the opening 10 minutes. The Dinos continued to keep the pressure on the Wesmen and built a lead of 13 points at 41-28 with just over three minutes left to play. The teams exchanged two point baskets and left the Dinos heading into the halftime break with a 43-30 lead.
Calgary shot the lights out in the opening half, connecting on 18-of-29 (62%) from the field. Winnipeg finished the first half 10-of-23 (43%).
In the third quarter both teams struggled in the early stages with the both teams only managing one basket each in the opening 3:30 minutes, Calgary led 45-32 at this point. Winnipeg was unable to sustain any offence and the Dinos took advantage building a 20 point lead at 63-43 after three quarters.
Calgary maintained their double-digit lead for a majority of the final frame until Winnipeg made the game interesting. The Dinos were up 72-56, 3:30 into the quarter until Winnipeg caught fire going on a 20-9 run to cut the deficit to 81-76. Ogungbemi-Jackson hit a jumper to put Calgary up by seven at 83-76.
A three pointer by Travis Krahn followed by a three point play by Mark McNee cut the Calgary lead to 83-82. A late basket by Philip Barndt followed by two free-throws by Ogungbemi-Jackson ended the comeback hopes for the Wesmen as Calgary hung on for the 87-82 victory.
Calgary will be at home next weekend against Brandon. Winnipeg will be on the road in Lethbridge to face the Pronghorns.