BOX SCORE CALGARY – Riding another solid performance by Thijin Moses, the University of Calgary Dinos picked up a dominating 74-53 win over the Mount Royal University Cougars in their first-ever Canada West men's basketball meeting Thursday night.

With just under 1,500 in the Jack Simpson Gym – most of them University of Calgary students decked out in red – the Cougars came out firing with three buckets from long range in the first 90 seconds to take a 9-4 lead, but from then on it was all Dinos. Moses put up 26 and hauled down 11 while the defence played outstanding, holding the Cougars under 20 per cent from the field and without a field goal for almost five minutes at the end of the fourth quarter.

Calgary improves to 3-4 with the win, while Mount Royal drops to 2-5 in its first season of Canada West play.

The win, coupled with other action between the two crosstown rivals Thursday night, gives the Dinos five wins in the inaugural Crowchild Classic series. Mount Royal now has three victories, and two games ended in ties. The first school to eight victories will capture The Medal, a 68-kilogram City of Calgary manhole cover, for display on its campus for the following year.

“The kids worked hard, we limited their ability to penetrate, and we did a good job on their shooters – especially in the second half of the third quarter,” said Calgary head coach Dan Vanhooren. “We have to do a better job of rebounding, but some guys really stood out. Dallas Karch had a terrific game at both ends of the floor and is showing great improvement – the sky's the limit, we just need to keep working now.”

Calgary's offence was spread out, with five players registering at least eight points. In addition to Moses's 26-and-11 stat line – to which he added three assists, three blocks, and three steals – freshman Mitch Ligertwood added 10 points while Karch and Clay Mulumba picked up nine each. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, playing a reduced role of just 18 minutes due to foul trouble, still managed eight rebounds to go with his eight points on the night.

Mount Royal responded with 19 points and 12 rebounds from Awet Abraha, while Nick Loewen was also in double-double territory with his 13-point, 10 rebound night. But as a team, the Cougars shot just 15-of-79 from the field and made just two three-point baskets after that opening flurry in the first 90 seconds. Mount Royal did a solid job rebounding with 22 off the offensive glass, but Calgary won the rebounding battle overall by a 60-52 margin.

It was the only meeting of the season between the two Calgary schools, with Mount Royal playing in the Pacific Division. The Cougars take a day off before heading to Lethbridge for a tilt with the Pronghorns on Saturday night.

Women's action between the Dinos and Cougars tips off in the Jack Simpson Gym Friday night at 7 p.m. Both Dinos teams are back in action Saturday when they host the UNBC Timberwolves – women's action tips off at 5 p.m., followed by the men at 7 p.m.

-UC-