CALGARY – The little things made a big difference Saturday, as the Calgary Dinos outlasted the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack 79-77 to earn the weekend sweep.
TRU sprung out to a 10-0 advantage to open the game, with Denys Bachurin notching four points in the first three minutes. Calgary's three-point proficiency kept them within striking distance, but it was the WolfPack's interior advantage that controlled the flow of the game in the opening frame. TRU registered 18 points in the paint in the quarter to build a 25-18 lead.
Early in the second, Calgary mounted a 14-2 run to take the lead. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field for the majority of the second quarter, but TRU lost precious points at the three-point and free-throw line.
Hitting their first three pointer halfway through the third quarter, Thompson Rivers shot an ice-cold 12 percent (2-17) from long range, compared to 41 percent (10-24) for the Dinos. The +24 advantage at the three-point line was exasperated by TRU's struggles at the charity stripe, where they shot 65% (13-20) compared to 91% (11-12) from Calgary.
The missed opportunities loomed large for TRU, who found themselves in a single-digit deficit for the majority of the second half. Both teams have been in close games throughout the season, and Calgary's poise served them well in the final minutes.
"Winning by big margins doesn't really prepare you for playoffs," said
Spencer Roberts postgame. "When you get down to the nitty gritty and you got to dig in, (these moments) prepare you for things that some other teams aren't used to."
In the waning minutes of the fourth,
Dylan Lutes delivered three incredible sequences for Calgary, scoring five straight points and recording one block. The fourth-year wing finished with 14 points on 6-8 shooting, but was forced to the bench after picking up his fourth foul with three minutes remaining.
The WolfPack countered once again; this time courtesy of an Asher Mayan three pointer to bring TRU within two points with 35 seconds left. Calgary was whistled for an offensive foul on the ensuing possession, leaving TRU the final shot and a chance at the weekend split.
Bachurin launched a three-point try with two seconds remaining, which bounced off the rim and into the fingertips of Cyrus Harrison. His tip-in would have sent the game into overtime but it just bounced out, ending the comeback bid.
With the victory, Calgary extends its win streak to eight games and will host Trinity Western next weekend for the annual Pack The Jack. TRU will look to get back into the playoff hunt on the road against UBCO. You can catch all the action on CanadaWestTV.
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