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Strong fourth quarter lifts Dinos over Dogs
Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Huskies could not overcome a strong fourth quarter by the No. 3-ranked Calgary Dinos, who outscored the home team 26-17 in the final period on their way to a 72-67 victory at the Physical Activity Complex Friday night.
Saskatchewan (20-17, 11-10 Canada West) will play it's final conference game Saturday night against Calgary (29-7, 18-3).
The Huskies opened the scoring on a Rob Lovelace layup from a save on the ball going out of bounds by Andrew Spagrud. The Huskies went on an 8-0 run to start the game before Calgary's Henry Bekkering scored a three-pointer. The Dinos closed the gap to 10-7 after Lovelace took a technical foul and pulled within one on a jump shot by Jeff Price.
The Huskies lead by two, 18-16, heading into the second quarter. Saskatchewan continued to dominate in the frame outscoring the Dinos by eight to lead 38-28 heading into half time.
With a two point lead with just seconds left in the third quarter, Lovelace slid around three Dinos hitting the net at the buzzer to put Saskatchewan up 50-46. The Huskies continued to lead until just under the seven minute mark when the Dinos were able to gather themselves and score five quick points to take a 58-55 lead. It was the first time Calgary was ahead in the game.
From then the Huskies could never regain the lead. Calgary kept control into the dying seconds of the quarter leading by six points with 17 seconds left in the game. The Huskies hit a three-point shot with three seconds left but were never able to make the full comeback, giving Calgary the 72-67 win.
Bekkering had a game high 24 points and 11 rebounds on the night for the Dinos, while Troy Gottselig scored 18 for the Huskies. Spagrud finished with just seven points. Anytime the six-foot-eight Saskatoon native touched the ball, two Dinos surrounded him allowing him to only go 1-9 from the field.
Spagrud was still able to get the ball to his teammates tallying five assists.
With both teams already secure in a playoff spot, the game meant nothing in the standings. Calgary remains on top of the Central Division standings with an 18-3 record, while Saskatchewan sits in third with an 11-10 record. Saskatchewan will face the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the division's best-of-three quarter-final in Edmonton beginning Feb. 15. Calgary will play the winner of the series in the semifinal.
The two teams will meet again Saturday night at the PAC. Game time is 8 p.m. The Huskies will honour their five seniors, Kyle Grant, Jordan Harbidge, Rob Lovelace, Mark Lynch and Andrew Spagrud prior to the game.
With files from Nicole Josin, Sports Information Director, Huskie Athletics
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