CALGARY –The UBC Thunderbirds are now in do-or-die territory after a 98-71 game one semifinal loss to the No. 4 Calgary Dinos Thursday night at Jack Simpson Gym.

The Dinos are now one win away from securing a spot in the U SPORTS Final 8 tournament, as well as the Canada West championship game while the 'Birds need a win Saturday to extend their season and push the best-of-three series the distance.

Calgary was led by point guard David Kapinga, who earlier on Thursday was named a third-team conference all-star. The fourth-year forward finished with 28 points on 12-19 shooting, with four steals and four rebounds.

It certainly didn't look like a blowout early on with the Thunderbirds getting hot in the first, especially from three-point territory. UBC went 6-for-10 from downtown and finished the first quarter up 26-17. Calgary returned the favour in the second quarter winning the frame 28-16 to take a three-point lead at halftime.

In the second half the Dinos didn't look back starting the third on a 13-0 run, led by all-stars Kapinga and Mambi Diawara, who made the conference's first-team. They would win the quarter 28-13 and continue the onslaught in the fourth with their largest lead hitting 33 points.

After the first, Calgary outscored UBC - who averaged 94 points per game in the regular season - 81-45.

The Dinos outperformed the 'Birds in every aspect of the game by being aggressive at both ends. Calgary scored 26 points off 26 UBC turnovers, while only committing 14 themselves and outscoring the taller Thunderbirds in the paint 56-34. Calgary also had 23 offensive rebounds and went 15-22 from the free-throw line to UBC's 9-10.

UBC was led in scoring by rookie Anthony Mcnish who put up 19 points off the bench, while reigning MVP and first-team all-star Conor Morgan had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Game two is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT at Calgary's Jack Simpson Gym.