CALGARY – The Winnipeg Wesmen pulled off the win in the final minutes as they downed the University of Calgary Dinos 86-80 in their home opener at Jack Simpson Gym on Nov. 8. 

For the Dinos, Josh Turner scored a team-high 20 points. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson scored 14 of his own and added six assists. Philip Barndt grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and scored another 14. 

Wesmen Steven Wesley had a game-high 24 points to lead Winnipeg. Both Andrew Cunningham and Ryan Oirbans had 14 points and seven rebounds and Travis Krahn added 17 for Winnipeg. 

Despite what the final score says, the game was a close one all the way until the end. Tied and changing leads throughout the first, the Wesmen took a one-point lead at 18-17. 

After the second quarter, the Dinos would lead 28-27 thanks to a Ogungbemi-Jackson three-pointer. Winnipeg was shooting a 52 per cent from field goal range while the Dinos were just behind the at 48.

In the second half, both teams continued to trade leads with the Dinos going ahead 38-35. Just half way through the third, the Wesmen tied it up once again at 49, and then again at 57. The quarter ended 59-58 in favour of Calgary. With just one quarter left to play, Wesley for Winnipeg and Turner for Calgary had both scored 15 points. 

In the final quarter, the game was still tied at 66 and it forced the Wesmen to call a timeout. From there, they took a four point lead and held onto that until the clocked ticked down. The Dinos were unable to gain back the lead after that, and they were defeated 86-80.  

The Dinos will take on the Wesmen in the second installment of a double header this weekend tomorrow at 8 p.m.