HALIFAX (U SPORTS) – A 29-point third quarter helped the Calgary Dinos top the Saint Mary’s Huskies 96-65 on Saturday night in the consolation final of the 2017 ArcelorMittal Dofasco U SPORTS Men’s Final 8. Calgary would shoot 75 per cent from the field in the third en route to the win.

Calgary guard Thomas Cooper led all scorers with 28 points, while Saint Mary’s guard Marquis Clayton had 18 for the Huskies.

The Dinos were firm on the defensive end in the first quarter, holding the Huskies to just five field goals on 22.7 per cent shooting from the field and led by one entering the second. Saint Mary’s was paced by forward Achuil Lual, who was 4-for-4 from the line and had six points overall. 

Cooper got hot in the second quarter, scoring 12 of his team’s 16 points while going 5-of-8 from the field. The Huskies battled back, taking only their second lead of the game with just under three minutes to go, courtesy of guard Kemar Alleyne. They shot just under 54 per cent in the quarter and entered halftime up by four. 

The Dinos had five steals in the third quarter and capitalized in transition, with forward Connor Foreman the beneficiary on the offensive end. He recorded 10 points, including two emphatic dunks as the Dinos led by 12 entering the final 10 minutes. 

The Huskies shot just 29.4 per cent from the field, but did get six points from forward Brent Martindale, who showed his hustle on both ends of the court.  

Calgary closed the game out with perimeter play. Forward Max Eisele and guard Jhony Verrone would sink early shots from downtown as the Dinos opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run. 

Despite the loss, Huskies head coach Jonah Taussig emphasized the importance of the journey his team took to get to the Final 8. 

“I just told my fifth-year guys to try and not remember those final 20 minutes and just to remember the ride and the journey we had as a team,” said Taussig. “Of all the teams in the country, I thought we had a pretty successful season and I want them to just remember that and just thank them for their time and commitment.”

STAT LEADERS

SMU: 17-21-13-14: 65

CAL: 18-16-29-33: 96

Saint Mary’s  

Points: Marquis Clayton (18), Achuil Lual (10)

Rebounds: Will Fiander (7)

Assists: Will Fiander (2)

Player of the game: Will Fiander    

Calgary

Points: Thomas Cooper (28), Mambi Diawara (15)

Rebounds: Thomas Cooper (8)

Assists: Mambi Diawara (6)

Player of the game: Thomas Cooper   

SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All time AT)

Thursday, March 9

12:00 p.m. Quarter-final 1: No.2 Carleton 85 vs. No.7 Calgary 69 (TV1 webcast)

2 p.m. Quarter-final 2: No.3 McGill 63 vs. No.6 Manitoba 53 (TV1 webcast)

6 p.m. Quarter-final 3: No.1 Ryerson 79 vs. No.8 Saint Mary’s 70 (TV1 webcast)

8 p.m. Quarter-final 4: No.4 Alberta 65 vs. No.5 Dalhousie 67 (TV1 webcast)

Friday, March 10

6 p.m. Consolation 1: Calgary 92 vs. Manitoba 84 (TV1 webcast)

8 p.m. Consolation 2: Saint Mary’s 98 vs. Alberta 93 (OT) (TV1 webcast)

Saturday, March 11

1 p.m. Semifinal 1: Carleton 74 vs. McGill 58 (Sportsnet 360/SN Now) 

3:30 p.m. Semifinal 2: Ryerson 59 vs. Dalhousie 58 (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)

8 p.m. 5th-place game: Calgary 96 vs. Saint Mary’s 65 (TV1 webcast)

Sunday, March 12

11:30 a.m. Bronze McGill vs. Dalhousie (TV1 webcast)

2:00 p.m. Final Ryerson vs. Carleton (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)