EDMONTON – For the second time in three years, the University of Calgary Dinos are the Canada West champions in men's basketball.
The fourth-ranked Dinos pulled off an 84-77 win over the No. 2 Alberta Golden Bears Saturday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre, returning the favour after the Bears won the title on the Dinos' home floor a year ago.
It's the seventh conference title in school history and the fourth during Head Coach
Dan Vanhooren's tenure, along with wins in 2004, 2009, and 2016. Calgary will head to its third straight U SPORTS Final 8 championship in Halifax next weekend, in search of the program's first national title.
David Kapinga had a career night with 32 points to lead the way for the Dinos, who forced the Golden Bears into 27 turnovers and collected 34 points off those. Senior forward
Connor Foreman was also big for the Dinos posting 15 points, while Canada West defensive player of the year
Jhony Verrone dropped in 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor.
"I'm so proud of our guys," Vanhooren told Canada West TV after the game. "They worked really hard at our game plan, they battled for every rebound. We just beat a really good basketball team, by doing what we were supposed to do. David had a tremendous basketball game tonight, and it showed why he was on the FISU national team with us and such a leader for us. Our perimeter created so many turnovers, which has been our M.O. all year."
"Coming back after getting swept for the first time in three years during the season (against Alberta)…to come back and win in their gym, it's incredible," said Foreman. "It's another step. We have three more games next week, and we have to be ready for those. We are gonna come out, and give it our all."
The Dinos outscored Alberta 45-36 in the second half to hand the Bears just their second loss of consequence on the season.
The Golden Bears, who defeated Calgary twice in conference play earlier in the season, raced out to a 24-19 lead after the opening quarter, thanks to an absurd 69 per cent shooting performance. Waddoups scored six of his 16 in the opening quarter, while Kapinga kept Calgary within reach with 10 of his 30 in the first.
Kapinga continued to score with ease in the second quarter, adding another eight points, as Calgary chipped into Alberta's lead. Both rivals also cleaned up defensivley in the second, shooting a combined 38 per cent in the second, compared to 58 per cent in the first. Depsite cooling off considerably on offence, Alberta still held a 41-40 half-time lead.
Calgary regained the lead early in the third quarter, as a pair of quick threes pushed the Dinos up 47-44. Kapinga, having an incredibly efficient night, added another seven in the third, as the Dinos took a 63-61 advantage over Alberta into the fourth quarter.
The final frame was arguably the Dinos' best, as they held Alberta to just 16 points, scoring another 21, en route to the seven-point win. Both teams went back-and-forth throughout the fourth, however the Bears were unable to regain the lead. A made layup and a freethrow from Foreman sealed the win for Calgary late in the fourth.
NOTES: It is the 147th Canada West championship in University of Calgary history and the fourth in the 2017-18 season along with football, women's rugby, and men's cross country … Calgary's pre-Vanhooren men's basketball titles came in 1966, 1976, and 1993 … Three of Vanhooren's four conference titles have come on the road: vs UBC (at Brandon) in 2004, at UBC in 2009, and at Alberta in 2018. The lone home win came over Thompson Rivers in 2016 … the Dinos depart Monday for Halifax and the U SPORTS Final 8, which opens Thursday at the Scotiabank Centre.
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