CALGARY – The Dinos delivered for Pack the Jack, blitzing the Trinity Western Spartans 110-70 in front of a jubilant hometown crowd inside the Jack Simpson Gym Friday night.

Facing off against the twin towers of the Spartans, Calgary inserted both Spencer Roberts and Sran Gurshan into the starting lineup. The Dinos were +8 with the two-big lineup on the floor the first quarter. Despite a cold start shooting the ball (38%), the Spartans kept the deficit to four points after ten minutes. 

The advantage the Spartans have experienced before at the rim evaporated in the second quarter. Despite boasting two of the top five players in blocks in the conference and holding teams to the fifth-worst opposing field goal percentage, Calgary built a 34-16 advantage on points in the paint at the half. Noah Wharton and Nate Petrone shifted into high gear to close the quarter, combining for 26 points and only three missed field goals. 

Due largely to the play of Leif Skelding, who was 3-3 from 3-point range, the game didn't feel out of reach for the Spartans at half. The same couldn't be said two minutes into the third quarter.

Nate Petrone chased the Spartans starters from the floor on the back of a 10-2 Calgary run to open the third quarter. The Dinos opened the quarter 7-7 from the field, burgeoning the voice of the crowd and the lead to 30 points. 

"We have a good culture and community on the University campus. For (the gym) to get that packed was a great experience" said Dinos rookie forward Jaylen Lee postgame.

With the game largely decided after 30 minutes, both teams deployed their second unit for the majority of the fourth quarter. Aristote Kalala put together his best stretch of minutes, scoring seven points and recording two blocks, but the show belonged to the Dinos freshmen talent.

Jaylen Lee poured in 11 points in the final frame and Beckett Johnson used a thunderous dunk with 30 seconds remaining to register the first points of his young U SPORTS career. 

"(I'm) thankful for the coaches," added Lee. "I'm always trying to stay consistent and get my reps up and I am just thankful they put me in there."

With the victory, the Dinos win streak extends to nine in a row. The Spartans earned the split last weekend against No. 1 Victoria, they will look to repeat that feat Saturday at 8 pm. The game will be streamed live on Canada West TV.

-UC-