The Windsor Lancers Men's Basketball team will host the University of Calgary Dinos on Thursday night in a highly anticipated CIS exhibition match-up at the St. Denis Centre.

Tip-off between the Lancers and the Dinos is set for 7pm on Thursday night.

Coach Oliver's squad is well rested after a busy August summer series against NCAA schools Virginia Tech, St. Louis, Oakland and Northern Florida.

Windsor also hosted Humber College in a special exhibition game in late September in Chatham, Ontario on the campus of St. Clair College. The Lancers defeated Humber College 78-69 behind some strong play from point guard Josh Collins who finished with a game-high 24 points.

Coming into this season, the Lancers appear poised for another big year behind the senior leadership trio of Josh Collins, Enrico Diloreto and Lien Phillip.

Phillip, who played for Team Canada and captured a silver medal at the World University Games in China this August, will be one of the toughest post match-ups in the country this year. He averaged 11.8 ppg and 10.5 rpg last season and should improve upon those number this year.

At the guard spots, Josh Collins and Enrico Diloreto make up one of the most talented tandems in the nation.  Point guard Josh Collins averaged 9.7 ppg and 5.4 apg a year ago while shooting guard Enrico Dilreto averaged 13.3 ppg and 3.4 rpg.

The trio will get help in the post from second year returnee and local product Evan Matthews. The Belle River native has come back bigger and stronger this season and should provide solid rebounding and a defensive presence in the post for the Lancers.

This year's team will also feature a host of newcomers including local standout Junior Osuntola from Holy Names High School in Windsor and Joey Ellenberger from F.J. Brennan in Windsor. Osuntola had a couple of impressive outings in the August NCAA summer series and should be able to contribute immediate this season.

In addition, transfers Jahmal McQueen, Ryan Christie, Jared Malcom, Henock Araia and Anthony Ottley should also provide a scoring boost this fall. McQueen, who previously played at the University of Toronto and Christie, who last played at McMaster, should both be ready to make an impact in the OUA this year.

For the University of Calgary Dinos, they've added some new faces to a solid core of returnees that should get them back into the upper echelon of Canada West competition, after having missed the play-offs last season.
 
The Dinos have four players who will be in their 5th and final year of eligibility in CIS play, including Dinos vets and Calgary natives Tyler Fidler and Dustin Reding.
 
Returnee guard, Keenan Milburn, in his 2nd year at Calgary after having played 3 years with SAIT, is another fifth year man.

OUA Basketball fans will recognize the name Boris Bakovic, who joins the Calgary Dinos after four standout years at Ryerson. Bakovic was an OUA and CIS All-star who has chosen to finish his CIS career with the Dinos
 
Also returning to the Dinos roster after a season away with injuries are point guard, Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, and post player, Patrick Walker, who will both be in their 2nd year.
 
Returnees for last season also include 3rd year guard, Andrew McGuinness, 2nd years Matt Letkeman (post), Nebojsa Kuljic (wing),  and Josh Wolfram (forward). 
 
Newcomers for Calgary include Josh Owen-Thomas, a combo guard, from Australia, Daan Wiersum, an exchange student from Groningen, The Netherlands, Matteo Bellusci, a guard from Webber Academy, and Roderick Iyekekpolar, a transfer forward from NAIT.

Thursday night's match-up between Windsor and Calgary will be a rare chance to see a top OUA program versus a top Canada West program right here at the St. Denis Centre.

Tickets for Thursday night's game are $5 and are available at the door that evening.

Fans are also reminded that the Lancers will host Wittenburg and Translyvania this weekend at 4pm on Saturday and Sunday at the St. Denis Centre.