Posted: Nov 29, 2014
CALGARY - After it took double-overtime for the University of Calgary Dinos to win against the Trinity Western Spartans Friday night, they didn't need the late-game heroics in their second matchup, beating the visiting team in regulation 86-65.
After a low-scoring first half with the Dinos leading 35-32, they took control winning the third quarter by five and the fourth by 13. The Spartans would make it a one-point game early in the third, but the Dinos would push the lead to eight four minutes in after a Phil Barndt free-throw. After a made basket by TWU, a Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson three would give Calgary their largest lead at 52-43. A Matt Letkeman jump shot late in the quarter kept it an eight-point game going into the fourth. Although the Spartans had shown their resiliency all weekend in coming back from multiple deficits, there would be no comeback in this game.
Calgary played a complete fourth quarter going on a 13-2 run to take an 18-point lead at 71-53, capped by a Lars Schlueter three at the 7:01 mark. The Spartans tried different lineup combinations, but a Letkeman score with 3:34 remaining pushed the lead to 25. The Dinos ended up scoring 27 points in the quarter leading to the 86-65 lead.
The Dinos shot 50 per cent for the game, including 40 per cent from three-point range going 9-22 from downtown. Four of those came from new recruit Schlueter who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. The night after the Spartans pushed the Dinos to the brink in 50 minutes of action, the German said Calgary's efficiency made the difference.
"We had more effort defensively and offensively, we ran cuts harder, we boxed out and it paid off," Schlueter said.
The Dinos did a better job on Taylor Heinrichs who had a monster game on Friday with 28 points and 10 rebounds, held to 15 on Saturday. Calgary also won the rebounding edge 45-36 and once again got major contributions from their bench, as supersub L.J. Hegwood finished as their top scorer with 17 points. Dallas Karch also finished in double-figures with 12 points and Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson had 11, including a beautiful alley-oop pass to Barndt midway through the third quarter. The Spartans were led by guard Justin Bakuteka with 21 points, but dropped to 1-9 on the season.
The Dinos did a better job on Taylor Heinrichs who had a monster game on Friday with 28 points and 10 rebounds, held to 15 on Saturday. Calgary also won the rebounding edge 45-36 and once again got major contributions from their bench, as supersub L.J. Hegwood finished as their top scorer with 17 points. Dallas Karch also finished in double-figures with 12 points and Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson had 11, including a beautiful alley-oop pass to Barndt midway through the third quarter. The Spartans were led by guard Justin Bakuteka with 21 points, but dropped to 1-9 on the season.
With the victory, the Dinos keep pace with the Manitoba Bisons, tied for first place in the Pioneers Division at 8-2. But nationally no. 9 ranked Calgary will face their biggest challenge Friday night in Edmonton as they take on the defending Canada West champion Alberta Golden Bears to wrap up the first half of the season.
"It's going to be a tough battle for us," Schlueter said. "We gotta fight hard and keep boxing out, keep running the floor. I think it's gonna be a tough game and we're going to have fun."
The Dinos return to the Jack Simpson Gymnasium on January 23rd, hosting the Victoria Vikes.