CALGARY – Mount Royal earned a weekend split of the Crowchild Classic weekend with a 100-91 victory over the University of Calgary Dinos on Saturday at Jack Simpson Gym, closing out a demanding back-to-back between the crosstown rivals. Saturday's game followed the Dinos' 90-75 win on Friday night and was played in front of a home crowd celebrating senior's night, with Martynas Sabaliauskas and Aidan Smith recognized prior to tipoff.

The Cougars came out with purpose in the opening quarter, applying pressure defensively and pushing the pace offensively. Jacob McLellan set the tone early, attacking off the dribble and capitalizing on transition opportunities. Sam Barnie was active on the glass, creating second chance looks that allowed the Cougars to build an early advantage. The Dinos responded through interior scoring and effort plays, but the Cougars held a slim edge after ten minutes.

The second quarter featured stretches of momentum for both teams. The Cougars continued to generate offense through ball movement and perimeter shooting, with Tag Layton and Jose Miguel Alba Gabaldon knocking down timely shots. The Dinos worked to stay within striking distance by attacking the paint and getting to the free throw line. Despite multiple runs from the Dinos, the Cougars maintained control and carried a 51-45 lead into halftime.

Coming out of the break, the Cougars built on their momentum. McLellan and Eli Djordjevic combined to apply pressure at both ends of the floor, while the Cougars' defense forced turnovers that led to transition baskets. The Dinos countered with finishes inside from Sabaliauskas and contributions from the guard rotation, but the Cougars continued to answer, extending the margin during the third quarter.

The Dinos opened the fourth quarter with renewed energy, trimming the deficit through strong defensive possessions and efficient scoring. Kuach Gajak and Mrigendra Dhaliwal provided offensive sparks, and the Dinos briefly cut the lead into single digits. The Cougars responded with composure, leaning on timely three point shooting and consistent execution in half court sets to halt the run.

As the game entered its final minutes, the Cougars controlled the tempo and made key plays at both ends. Barnie's rebounding presence limited the Dinos' second chance opportunities, while McLellan and Faruq Balarabe converted from the free throw line to keep the Dinos from mounting a late comeback. A late three pointer from Daniels Baumanis brought the Dinos closer, but the Cougars remained steady and closed out the game to secure the win.

Following the game, Smith reflected on being honored after several seasons with the program and sharing the moment with Sabaliauskas. "It's a little strange being on this side of things," said Smith. "For years, I was always the young guy cheering on the seniors, so being the one celebrated now is cool. I'm especially glad I get to share it with my guy, Martynas. He came all the way from Lithuania and has been here for years, so sharing this moment with him makes it special."

Sabaliauskas echoed the sentiment, describing the night as a meaningful milestone in his career. "It's really memorable," said Sabaliauskas. "It's been a long journey over the years, and honestly I didn't even realize how fast the time went. Suddenly it's your last regular season home game, so I tried to keep my emotions in check and just give it my absolute best."

With the regular season complete, attention now turns to the postseason, where the reigning Canada West Champions will start on the road. 

The Dinos will also host this year's U SPORTS Final 8, March 6-8 inside the Jack Simpson Gym.

-UC-