CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos men's basketball team will look to finish the regular season undefeated for the first time in program history as they host the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack for a pair of home games on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Jack Simpson Gym.

CLOSING OUT STRONG
The Dinos are coming off a U SPORTS National Championship last year, but this season they have showed the whole league why they were the champs. Last season they finished up the regular season with a 16-4 record en route to their first national championship in school history. It seems as though the Dinos have taken a major step up this season, and with playoffs right around the corner, the Dinos are entering red hot.

SENIOR SALUTE
Saturday night, the Dinos will honour a quartet of graduating seniors prior to the final regular season home game of their careers. Fifth-year stalwarts David Kapinga, Mambi Diawara, Lucas Mannes, and Lars Schlueter will be feted by Dan Vanhooren and welcomed into the Sixth Man Club alumni group in a pregame ceremony.

DEFENSIVE PRIDE
Defence wins championships. A key part of the Dinos' success in 2019 has been how they have played on the defensive end. This season the Dinos lead Canada West in steals per game, points per game allowed, and opponents' field goal percentage. They also average 31.4 defensive rebounds per game.

POSTSEASON TUNE-UP
The WolfPack (6-12) provide the final tune-up for the Dinos, who have clinched first place in the Canada West RPI playoff seeding and will enjoy home court advantage throughout the conference postseason. Calgary will have a bye next week before hosting a best-of-three conference quarter-final series Feb. 15-17. The semifinal round is set for the following weekend, with the two semifinal winners advancing to the U SPORTS Final 8 back in Halifax.

QUOTABLE
Head coach Dan Vanhooren on the possibility of the Dinos going undefeated.

"I think the guys are motivated. I'd be fooling them and myself if I'm not thinking about and they're not thinking about it and the team will play hard because of it and if we happen to go 20-0 then that's the icing on the cake."

SCOUTING REPORT
vs THOMPSON RIVERS WOLF PACK
Match Info Friday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. – Jack Simpson Gym
2018-19 Record 6-12, 14th in Canada West standings
2018-19 Leading Scorer(s) Derek Rhodes (14.7 ppg)

NOTES

• When the WolfPack gets to the free throw line they are second in Canada West in free throw percentage at 73.9.
• Thompson Rivers will be trying to play spoiler against the Dinos, while they try to end a four-game skid.
• The WolfPack share the ball well as they average 16 assists per game.
• TRU is currently on the outside looking into the playoff picture and need at least one victory this weekend to have a chance at one of the 12 postseason berths in Canada West.

UP NEXT
Calgary will be back on the floor Feb. 15-17 for a best-of-three Canada West quarter-final.