WINNIPEG - The third-ranked Calgary Dinos overcame a hard-charging Herd with a major fourth quarter effort at both ends of the floor to defeat the Manitoba Bisons 86-67 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre Friday night.
BOX SCORE
After leading by just a single point after 30 minutes at 58-57, the Dinos exploded for 28 while holding their hosts to just 10 in the final frame to take the 19-point victory.
In first quarter action the Bison and Dinos came out shooting, with the two teams neck-and-neck. The Dinos started pulling away in the latter half of the quarter, shooting 42%, and took a six point lead into the break.
The second quarter was a different story as the Dinos kept their momentum going. With
Tyler Fidler providing the points, the Dinos were up by as many as 15 at one point. Heading into the end of the quarter Sean Maxwell of the Bison hit a trio of three-pointers, one with a defender in his face, to bring the Bisons back to within seven heading into halftime.
Manitoba kept fighting and in the third frame shot impressively from the field. Led by Jonar Huerta's six points and some support from the bench courtesy of Ian Dickey's four points, the Bisons were 11-19 from the floor in the quarter. The quarter was capped off with a buzzer beater lay-up by Manitoba's Eric Garcia to put them within one, 58-57.
Up to that point the Bison were sticking with the Dinos and were only down by five points when Maxwell left the game. He finished with a team high 17 points.
Any momentum Manitoba had was extinguished when Sean Maxwell fouled out of the game midway through the fourth quarter. He led his team with 17 points on the night and they trailed by just five when he left the game, but Calgary quickly took advantage of its size to put the game away.
The Dinos controlled the play the rest of the quarter. They were led by Fidler's game high 23 points and 14 rebounds.
Ross Bekkering also had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Richard Reimer was a solid 50 per cent from the floor and added 15 points for the Bison in the loss.
The Dinos and Bisons tip off for the rematch Saturday night at 7 p.m. MT, also at the IGAC in Winnipeg.
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