The University of Calgary men’s basketball team showed another glimmer of their potentially gold season, beating the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns during their two-game series this past weekend. The Dinos won the Fri. night game 90-78 and the Sat. night game by a score of 94-66. These wins improve the Dinos’ record to 5-1 on the season to keep them tied with University of Alberta Golden Bears for first place in the Central division of Canada West.
Calgary neighbours Lethbridge have proven hard to beat in the past. Prior to this past weekend, the Dinos only swept Lethbridge twice in their history, once in 2003-04 and before that, in 1990. The Pronghorn crowd can be a difficult opponent as well.
“We had our med kit stolen only a couple of years ago when we’re playing them down there,” said Dinos head coach Dan Vanhooren. “Our trainer had to run out and chase somebody down and security is behind our bench because [Pronghorn fans were] throwing stuff at us. They’re not easy games to play in.”
The Dinos managed to make it look easy, though, beating the Pronghorns heading into the fourth quarter during the Fri. night game leading 74-49. They suffered a letdown in the fourth quarter, being outscored 29-16, but at that point, the game was already out of reach for the Pronghorns.
The Bekkering brothers led the charge again for the Dinos. Ross continued his strong start to the season, recording another double-double for the Dinos with 10 rebounds and 22 points. Henry had a team-high 25 points. Robbie Sihota also reached double figures in points again with 11.
During the Sat. night game, the Dinos managed to put together a solid team effort the first time this season. The Dinos collected 50 rebounds to the Pronghorns’ 29 and shot 40 times from the line compared to 18 for their Lethbridge opponents.
Ross clocked 23 points and 17 rebounds, Henry had 18 points, Sihota had a double-double with 11 rebounds and 13 points and Cody Darrah chipped in with 10 points.
“It was a pretty good weekend,” said Darrah. “Lethbridge came out pretty tough, big crowd and stuff. Our guards played pretty tough and our posts played well. Overall, it was a good team win.”
Unfortunately for the Dinos, their division rivals, the University of Alberta Golden Bears, managed to win their weekend games against the Brandon and Regina. Tension is high as the two teams prepare to battle this weekend.
“We’re confident in our guys,” said Vanhooren. “We’re definitely the Bears’ equal. As far as a team [goes], I think we’re better, althletically and physically. For us, it is going to be a matter of executing and running our stuff and keeping turnovers down to a minimum in order for us to win games and beat this team.”