WINNIPEG - Opening the 2008-09 Canada West season, the Bison men's basketball team lost to the visiting Calgary Dinos 80-66 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday, October 24.

BOX SCORE

The Bisons, who lost to the Dinos by 24 points last year improved upon that effort this year, but stumbled out of the gate early as they were caught off guard by Calgary's big lineup.

"We weren't ready for Calgary's size," said Bison head coach Rick Suffield, "but once we got over the fright factor, being down 36 – 30 at the half was acceptable. But we turned the ball over too much in the second half and they capitalized. The loss was our responsibility."

The Bisons took over five minutes to score their first points and were down at the end of the first quarter by a score of 18-8.

Despite the slow start, Manitoba found their offence in the second quarter and chipped away at the early deficit on the strength of steals, blocks, fast break baskets, and free throws. They outscored the Dinos 22-18. At the 7:41 mark the Bisons closed the gap to three points, but Calgary held on for a 36-30 lead at halftime.

The halftime deficit wasn't due to a lack of effort as the Bisons took at total of 66 shots, including 19 three-point attempts, of which they made four. The Bisons shot 27.5 per cent from the field while the Dinos made 41.9 per cent of the field goals.

Things heated up in the second half as the Dinos dunked their way to a 44-point outburst. There were four separate slams by the Dinos with forward Henry Bekkering throwing down two and scoring a game-high 18 points. Forward C.J. Wicker tried to get the Bisons back in the game by answering with his own dunk.

Ross Bekkering and Robbie Sihota added 13 points apiece for the Dinos, while sophomore Tyler Fidler chipped in with 10.

But it wasn't enough as Manitoba was outscored 24-21 in the fourth quarter and ended up losing by 14. The Bisons got 16-point efforts from co-captain and guard Chris Pereira and forward Ian Dickey.

The Bisons continue their season on Saturday, October 25 when they host the Lethbridge Pronghorns, a team they beat by three points last year. The Dinos, meanwhile, move across town to face the Winnipeg Wesmen in a 7 p.m. MT start.

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