CALGARY - After it took double-overtime for the Calgary Dinos to win against Trinity Western Friday night, it was a different story Saturday in their second matchup as the Spartans fell in regulation 86-65.
 
After a low-scoring first half with the Dinos leading 35-32, the home side took control in the second half, winning the third quarter by five and the fourth by 13. The Spartans make it a one-point game early in the third, but the Dinos pushed the lead to eight points four minutes in after a Phil Barndt free-throw. After a made basket by TWU, a Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson three gave Calgary its largest lead at 52-43. A Matt Letkeman jump shot late in the quarter kept it an eight-point game going into the fourth.

Although the Spartans had shown their resiliency all weekend in coming back from multiple deficits, there would be no comeback in this game.

"It was another game in which we were close for parts of the game but just had some missed assignments that sparked a bit of downward spiral," said Spartans coach Scott Allen. "They guys making great efforts and doing everything they can to win games, but we just need to find a way to get it done and play better defence for longer stretches"
 
Calgary played a complete fourth quarter, going on a 13-2 run to take an 18-point lead at 71-53, capped by a Lars Schlueter three at the 7:01 mark. The Spartans tried different lineup combinations, but a Letkeman score with 3:34 remaining pushed the lead to 25. The Dinos ended up scoring 27 points in the quarter on route to the 86-65 lead.

The Dinos shot 50 per cent for the game, including 40 per cent from three-point range going 9-22 from downtown. Four of those came from new recruit Schlueter who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

On Saturday, the Dinos did a better job on TWU's Taylor Heinrichs, holding him to 15 points, have he had a monster game on Friday with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Calgary also won the rebounding battle 45-36 and once again got major contributions from their bench, as L.J. Hegwood finished as their top scorer with 17 points. Dallas Karch also finished in double-figures with 12 points and Ogungbemi-Jackson had 11.

The Spartans were led by guard Justin Bakuteka with 21 points, but dropped to 1-9 on the season.
 
With the victory, the Dinos keep pace with the Manitoba Bisons, tied for first place in the Pioneers Division at 8-2. But nationally No. 9 ranked Calgary will face its biggest challenge Friday night in Edmonton as they take on the defending Canada West champion Alberta Golden Bears to wrap up the first half of the season.

The Spartans return to the Canada West court Jan. 9-10 when they host Regina. In the meantime, the team will travel to California for a pre-Christmas exhibition trip featuring games against Cal State San Marcos Dec. 16, Vanguard Dec. 17 and Biola Dec. 20.
 
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