CALGARY – An 82-68 win by the University of Calgary Dinos over the Brandon Bobcats has them undefeated through the first two weekends of conference play this season.
Calgary's sweep of the Bobcats has their record at a spotless 4-0, while Brandon has yet to record a win this season.
The Dinos were led by Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson and LJ Hegwood who both recorded double-doubles on the night with 11 rebounds each. Hegwood had 15 points while Ogungbemi-Jackson added 11, along with six asissts. Dallas Karch had a game-high 17 points on the night while Matt Letkeman added another ten of his own.
"LJ was terrific and his energy was great," said Dinos head coach Dan Vanhooren. "He rebounds the ball on offence and does a great job for us. I thought Matt Letkeman also had a good game and did a really good job coming off the bench. He struggled at the line, but that will come and his shooting is much better than it showed tonight."
For the Bobcats, five players reached double digits including Earl Thompson Jr. with 17, A.M. Benabdelhak with 14, D.J. Jordan with 13, Kenonte Ramsey with 12 and Mike Dosado with another 10. Benabdelhak was the only player to reach a double-double with a game-high 16 rebounds.
"The game came down to our foul shooting. We played well enough, we got good shots, moved the ball well and at times defensively we were really solid, but when we miss 20 foul shots, that's ridiculous for a team at our level and I honestly couldn't tell you the reason why. Had we shot an even reasonable percentage, it wouldn't have even been a game. I'm pleased with our effort and where our team is at and now we have to focus on Regina."
In the first, the Bobcats got off to a quick 4-0 lead, forcing the Dinos to call a timeout just two minutes into the game. Something clicked after the timeout, as the Dinos then went on a 10-0 run to earn their first lead of the game. Calgary's three-point shooting was on point in the first, with six different players sinking three's. That allowed the home team to go ahead 27-14 at the end of the first. Letkeman led all scores with six points.
An uneventful second quarter helped the Dinos maintain their double-digit lead throughout the frame, extending it to a high of 16 with three minutes left. It took until the last minute of play in the half for Brandon to put some pressure on. They were able to cut the Dinos lead in half, ending the quarter just seven points down by a score of 39-32.
After halftime, Brandon cut down the Dinos lead to just five early in, and later to just a basket halfway through the quarter at 48-46. A reverse lay-up from L.J. pushed his points total to double digits on the night and helped the Dinos stave off the Bobcats. A late push at the end of the third from a number of contributors allowed the Dinos to gain an eight point spread with one quarter left in the game.
Playing with a lead that just wasn't too comfortable, the Dinos had to fight their way through the Bobcats consistent offence to hold down their lead. Down to just a three-point differential with a three from the Bobcats, Lars Schluter responded for the Dinos with a three of his own.
Nearing the mid-way point of the final frame, baskets from veterans Philip Barndt and Ogungbemi-Jackson allowed the Dinos to regain a double digit lead once again, forcing Brandon to call a timeout. From there, Calgary's energy picked up while Brandon's diminished and the Dinos ran away with it, finished the game 82-68.
"We're trying to get our team to play defence for four quarters and I think that they're starting to grasp it, but we have our moments when we give up easy stuff and we have to make all the shots tougher. The game comes down to shooting percentage."
The Dinos head out to Regina to take on the Cougars, Nov. 14-15 while the Bobcats continue their road trip, heading to Winnipeg to take on the Bisons.