LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Rookie Mrigendra Dhaliwal erupted for a game-high 37 points in just his second career Canada West game to lead the University of Calgary Dinos men's basketball team to a come-from-behind 83-80 win over Lethbridge on Saturday from the Co-op Centre for Sport & Wellness.

Dhaliwal poured in 16 points in the final quarter alone to help the Dinos erase a 12-point deficit late in the third.

Calgary moves to 2-0 with the win, dropping Lethbridge to 0-2.

Dhaliwal was unstoppable from start to finish, going 11-17 overall from the floor, including 6-9 from three to go with 9-12 shooting from the free-throw line. The rookie also chipped in with a team-high six rebounds and one steal.

Beckett Johnson was the lone other Dino in double figures in this one, tallying 12 points on 4-7 shooting.

Kymani Pollard led the way for Lethbridge with 28 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists. Bryce Solis also had a nice night, finishing with 20 points on 6-15 shooting.

The Dinos held a one-point advantage at 22-21 after one, but the 'Horns got hot in the second quarter and led 46-40 at the half.

Lethbridge stretched that led to 65-53 late in the third, but bucks from Arinze Aniagu and Johnson made it an eight-point game after three.

Cue Mrigendra Dhaliwal. 

The Calgary product shot an impressive 5-8 from the floor in the final frame – including going 5-6 from the charity stripe – willing the Dinos to the win. The comeback effort started with a pair of free throws from the rookie before a triple by Aidan Smith. Dhaliwal then scored the next six points before a layup by Aniagu gave the Dinos their first lead of the second half at 74-73 with just 3:02 to play.

Dhaliwal drilled a triple with 59 seconds left to put Calgary up 81-75, icing the game away from the line the rest of the way.

The weekend sweep is the first for Calgary in Lethbridge since 2009.

Up next, the Dinos are off next weekend before returning to the court Nov. 7-8 with a weekend roadtrip to Brandon, Man. to take on the Bobcats.
 
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