Lethbridge – After facing CIS ranked opponents last weekend, the competition doesn’t get any easier for the Pronghorn basketball teams as they return home for their final home games before the semester break.
The Pronghorn
men’s basketball (3-3 CW, 3-7 overall) three game winning streak came to an abrupt end last weekend versus the #7 Saskatchewan Huskies, and the ‘Horns won’t get any reprieve this weekend hosting a pair of nationally ranked and undefeated teams in the #4 UBC Thunderbirds (4-0 CW) and #6 Victoria Vikes (6-0 CW), Friday and Saturday night respectively.
Horns in transition
After surging out to a 3-1 start to the season, the ‘Horns went cold last weekend versus the Saskatchewan Huskies. On the weekend, the ‘Horns only hit 32% from the field, including an abysmal 11-for-54 from behind the arc. The conference’s 10
th ranked offense will look to get back on track this weekend. Transfers
Daryl Cooper and
Dominyc Coward have paid immediate dividends for the ‘Horns leading the team offensively with 15.8 and 13.5 points per game respectively. Cooper leads Canada West in steals with 24, while Coward is second in blocks, averaging just under 2 per night. After allowing more than 88 points per game last season, the ‘Horns have shored up their defense, allowing just over 75 points a night thus far and are ranked 6
th defensively in the conference
Soaring T-Birds
The defending Canada West champion T-Birds have come flying out of the gate to start the season, leading the conference both offensively and defensively. On the attack the T-Birds have been lethal, hitting on more than 55% of their shots from the field and average nearly 100 points per game. At the other end of the floor, they have been almost as deadly, allowing only 67.8 points per game. Nathan Yu leads the T-Birds potent attack with 21 points per night, while Doug Plumb is second with just over 18 points per game. Tommy Nixon has been dynamite coming off the bench for UBC, hitting five-of-six three pointers and averaging just under 15 points per game in 22 minutes of action.
Vikes are marching
Saturday night’s opponents, the 6th ranked Vikes, are the only other undefeated team in the conference and they have been impressive to say the least. After starting the season unranked, the Vikes have rattled off six consecutive victories to open the season. Senior guard Ryan Mackinnon has led the conference’s third best offense in each of the team’s six games and is third on the conference’s scoring list with just over 22 points per night. Mackinnon has been deadly from long range, hitting a league leading 24 three pointers.
Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 8:00pm Friday and Saturday night at the 1
st Choice Savings Centre, the games will also be available on
www.canadawest.tv, the home of all Canada West web broadcasts.
