CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos bounced back from a hot-shooting opponent out of the gates to improve to 9-0 on the season, defeating the UNBC Timberwolves 94-70 Friday night in the Jack Simpson Gym.
UNBC falls to 4-5 with the setback, while the Dinos extended their regular season win streak to 32 games, dating back to February 2018.
It was the Timberwolves who got off to a strong start, with the tandem of Vova Plushnikov and Tyrell Laing combining for 14 points in the first five minutes of the contest as UNBC put the defending conference champs on their heels. But the Dinos found their rhythm from there, posting another dominant performance on the glass on the back of a stat line that is becoming pedestrian for
Brett Layton. The Calgary big man put up 19 points and hauled down a season-high 24 rebounds as Calgary dominated that battle by a 44-26 margin.
That led to a wide discrepancy in points in the paint as well, with the Dinos scoring 66 down low against just 16 by UNBC.
After allowing 16 points in the game's first five minutes, the Dinos only allowed 15 through the remainder of the opening half, taking a 12-point lead into the break.
The smooth-shooting
Ezeoha Santiago went 1-for-9 from beyond the arc Friday but still managed 23 points on 11-for-21 shooting to lead the way for the Dinos.
Mason Foreman added 20 points and nine rebounds, followed by Layton's 19-point effort.
Simon Kutzschmar chipped in with an efficient 12 points on the night for the Dinos.
Laing caught fire in the second half to finish the game with 28 to lead UNBC, while Pluzhnikov cooled off from his quick start but still finished with 15 points. Fareed Shittu's eight rebounds led the way for the Timberwolves
The two teams face off again Saturday night to close out the opening weekend of 2020. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT (6 p.m. PT), live on CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.
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