CALGARY -- Mambi Diawara registered game highs with 25 points and nine rebounds as the Calgary Dinos cruised to an 81-61 victory over visiting McGill in the opening round of the Calgary Classic men's preseason basketball tournament at the Jack Simpson Gym, Thursday. 

It was the first meeting between these teams since March 17, 2016 when the Dinos squeaked past McGill 72-69 in a national quarter-final.

David Kapinga and Lars Schlueter added 17 and 15, respectively for Calgary, which outscored McGill 19-17 in the opening quarter, then dominated the Redmen 24-14 and 23-13 over the next two quarters. McGill won the final stanza 17-15.

The Redmen also had three players reach double digits in scoring. Leading the way was Avery Cadogan with 15, followed by Dele Ogundokun (12) and Noah Daoust (11).

Normally a good shooting team, McGill shot a a disappointing 28.4 per cent from the floor (19/67), made only seven of 36 treys (19.4%) and sunk just 59.3 per cent from the foul line (16/27).

Calgary shot 41.3, 35.5 and 85.7 per cent, respectively. The Dinos dominated the boards by a 51-36 margin. McGill had an advantage in turnovers (22-16), blocks (3-2) and steals (12-5).

It was McGill's first game of the season against a Canadian opponent after posting a  4-6 record against NCAA opponents.

The Redmen play McMaster on Friday at 5 p.m. (Eastern) and Acadia on Saturday at 7 p.m. (Eastern)

LINK TO BOXSCORE
 

Calgary Classic Basketball: Tourney Results (Day 1)

NOTE: All times MOUNTAIN.

THURSDAY, OCT. 5
1 pm WOMEN: Regina 88 Acadia 67 - STATS
3 pm MEN: Acadia 96 McMaster 87 - STATS
6 pm WOMEN: Calgary 77 Waterloo 49 - STATS
8 pm MEN: Calgary 81 McGill 61 - STATS

FRIDAY, OCT. 6
1 pm WOMEN: Waterloo vs Regina- LIVE STATS
3 pm MEN: McGill vs McMaster - LIVE STATS
6 pm WOMEN: Calgary vs Acadia- LIVE STATS
8 pm MEN: Calgary vs Acadia - LIVE STATS

SATURDAY, OCT. 7
1 pm WOMEN: Acadia vs Waterloo- LIVE STATS
3 pm WOMEN: Calgary vs Regina- LIVE STATS
5 pm MEN: McGill vs Acadia - LIVE STATS
7 pm MEN: Calgary vs McMaster - LIVE STATS


SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
(514) 398-7012