CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos men's basketball team will host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in a best-of-three series in the Canada West semifinal this weekend. The series will begin on Thursday, Feb. 21, and Friday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. at the Jack Simpson Gym. If needed the Dinos and Huskies will play game three on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 4 p.m.

TRIP TO THE SHIP
The Dinos, the defending national champions, will advance to a program-best fourth consecutive U SPORTS Final 8 with a series win this weekend. The Huskies, of course, have other plans and will be looking to take that nationals berth for themselves.

SCORING CLINIC
This Canada West playoff matchup will feature two of the top 10 points per game leaders, Lawrence Moore and Mambi Diawara. Moore leads his team with 19.8 ppg and Diawara leads the Dinos with 17.9 ppg. Even though Diawara's per-game average has gone down since earlier in the year, he has been much improved as of late including a 25-point game last weekend.

CRASH THE BOARDS
Both the Dinos and Huskies are overall great rebounding teams. The Huskies average 15.1 offensive rebounds per game, which is first in Canada West, and average 43.4 rebounds per game. Calgary averages 31.1 defensive rebounds per game. This series will feature two of the top three rebounders in Canada West, Joseph Barker (9.8 rpg), and Brett Layton (9.4 rpg).

QUOTABLE
Head coach Dan Vanhooren on how he expects more from his team if they want to compete with the nation's top teams.

"The top teams in the nation are still waiting to play at nationals and if we can get through this weekend at all, we have a shot at playing those teams again and we have to play better basketball than we are right now."

SCOUTING REPORT
vs SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES
Series Info Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Feb 23 at 4 p.m. (if necessary).
2019 Record 11-9, 8th in Canada West (4th in RPI)
2019 Leading Scorer(s) Lawrence Moore (19.8 ppg)

NOTES

• The Huskies swept the Regina Cougars in the Canada West quarter-final.
• Lawrence Moore, who is the Huskies leading scorer with 19.8 ppg, is also second in Canada West in points per game behind Tyvon Cooper.
• The Huskies played the Dinos earlier in the season in November where the Dinos won both games.

UP NEXT
If the Dinos get past this weekend's semifinal, they will play and host the Canada West Final on Saturday, March 2.

-UC-