VANCOUVER – The University of Calgary Dinos men's basketball team is the Best in the West in 2025.

Behind a career-high 38 points from Canada West Player of the Year Nate Petrone, the Dinos jumped all over UBC early and never looked back for a 109-96 win in the Canada West Final Friday night inside the War Memorial Gym.

"I really wanted to be a champion," Petrone said. "I'm in my fourth year of eligibility, but this is my sixth year in this league and I hadn't won anything. I wasn't going to go away without a gold medal."

Petrone started the game absolutely on fire, going a perfect 8-8 in the opening quarter alone for 19 points in the first 10 minutes as the Dinos raced out to a 34-24 lead.

As a team, Calgary shot an incredible 72 percent (13-18) overall in the first, never really cooling off the rest of the way as they finished the game connecting on 60.3% (41-68) from the floor.

UBC was nearly up to the task, shooting 50% (10-20) in the second quarter and 60% (12-20) in the third to keep things close.

A push late in the third and into the early part of the fourth saw the Thunderbirds close the gap to just four at 95-91 with 7:22 to play. But the Dinos immediately responded with buckets from Declan Peterson and Petrone before a triple from Aidan Smith to go back up by double digits and never look back.

"Can't be better than that," said Dinos head coach Dan Vanhooren, who also celebrated his birthday with Friday's championship win. "It's a heck of a lot better than cake or presents or anything like that. This was a gift just watching these kids celebrate and achieve what they're capable of. 

"Everybody shot the ball well. Even when we played 'D' well, they scored. UBC did such a great job. But our kids came out…between Nate and Noah, we were so tough to guard. It was one of those games where, as a coach, you just sat there and watched it. I'm so in awe of what some of these kids are capable."

After an unconscious first three quarters where Petrone went a combined 14-16 from the floor for 35 points, he finally cooled off a little in the fourth and finished with 38 points and 10 assists, finishing with one of the greatest postseason performances in Canada West history.

Noah Wharton was equally as vital to the Dinos all night long, finishing with 22 points, five rebounds and a career-high five steals.

"This is surreal," Wharton said. "Six years of hard work finally paid off – finally got that championship. It feels great.

"This playoff run, we just locked in defensively. From the quarter-finals all the way to the finals right now, we've been locked in. We've been following the scout. It clearly paid off today. It's just a great feeling."

Third-year centre Declan Peterson finished a perfect 7-7 from the floor for 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks – coming up with a number of key defensive plays in the game's clutch moments.

Adam Olsen led the T-Birds with a team-high 21 points as one of five UBC players to score in double figures on the night. 

This marks the first time 164th Canada West championship in the University of Calgary history and the second in the 2024-25 school year, joining women's wrestling. It also marks the sixth conference title under Vanhooren, also achieving the feat in 2004, 2009, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Both the Dinos and Thunderbirds will now turn their attention to the U SPORTS Final 8, which will also be held on the UBC campus, starting Thursday, Mar. 13.

-UC-