The University of Winnipeg Wesmen men’s basketball team split last weekend (Nov. 6-7) against the Calgary Dinos in the Duckworth Centre. 

Despite the loss on Saturday night, it was an exciting weekend for the men’s team.

On Friday night, they came out strong from the start, playing good team defence and moving the ball on offence.

Calgary also began the game well, and the score stayed close for the first quarter. The Wesmen took the lead in the second quarter and were up 43-31 at the half. 

Winnipeg came out slow in the second half, which allowed Calgary back into the game.

“ Preparation is key and I feel we work as hard as any other team, if not harder.  We play with a chip on our shoulder so we feel we can take on anyone.

Benny Iko, Wesmen forward

The Dinos went on a 16-4 run and tied the game at 47-47.

Unfazed, Wesmen point guard Nolan Goodling scored seven points to help the Wesmen regain the lead before the last quarter. In the final 10 minutes of the game, the Wesmen held onto their lead and won the game 78-67.

The win was an upset, as the Dinos were considered to be the stronger team prior to the weekend, but U of W forward Benny Iko said the Wesmen never doubted their ability to take the win. 

“Preparation is key and I feel we work as hard as any other team, if not harder,” he said. “We play with a chip on our shoulder so we feel we can take on anyone.”

Saturday’s game was similar to Friday’s. However, the Wesmen were never able to take as substantial a lead as the night before.

Calgary and Winnipeg went back and forth at both ends, but the Wesmen were down with only minutes to go in the game. Nick Lother forced a turnover, and it looked like the Wesmen might close the 4-point gap, but they were unable to score on that possession. 

As time ran out, Winnipeg was out of options and the Wesmen lost 76-72.

“We had to foul at the end, and they made their free throws to win by four,” rookie Kelvin Smith said.

Head coach Mike Raimbault agreed.

“We were in a position to win Saturday’s game,” he said. “But we had some critical defensive lapses and missed opportunities on offence.”

Published in Volume 65, Number 11 of The Uniter (November 11, 2010)