Box Score LETHBRIDGE - There is a saying in the rodeo world: “They don’t send a picture with the check,” meaning, it doesn’t matter what you look like when you are competing, the only thing that really matters is your score or time.  Though it wasn’t pretty, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team gritted out a tough 80-72 win over the University of Calgary Dinos Saturday night.  In a game marked by poor shooting percentages and foul trouble for both teams, the ‘Horns found a way to improve their record to 7-7 and drop the Dinos to 4-10.
 
The ‘Horns depended on scoring from many sources, but were led by Alex Fletcher’s four treys and 14 points, while point guard Daryl Cooper and post Derek Waldner each added 13.  Tyson McIntyre’s 11 rebounds, most of which were earned while star forward Dom Coward sat on the bench in foul trouble, proved crucial to the team’s success.
 
Once again, Dinos point guard Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson led his team with 16 points and also distributed eight assists.  Boris Bakovic and Josh Owen-Thomas each put in 13. 
 
Though Saturday’s game lacked some of the electricity of the previous night, it still proved to be a battle typical of a U of L/U of C matchup as the decision came down to the final minutes of play.   The ‘Horns edged out a lead by the end of the first frame, ending in a 24-17 ‘Horns advantage.  The second quarter proved to be a defensive battle with strangling defense from both teams ending the half at 36-26 in favor of the home team.  The Dinos outscored the ‘Horns in the third quarter, but they still found themselves down four heading into the fourth.
 
Two minutes into the final quarter, Bakovic earned a Dino lead—the first since three minutes into the game, but ‘Horns guard Julian Spearchief-Morris answered with a three that brought his team’s lead to two.  Bakovic responded with a fast break lay-in to tie up the score at 58, but Spearchief-Morris ended the conversation with a lay-up of his own that earned a ‘Horns advantage that they would expand until the buzzer.  Though the Dinos hit a dangerous four threes in the final three minutes of play, quality free throw shooting and intelligent ball management down the stretch maintained a ‘Horns lead, sealed by a huge Waldner dunk of an inbound pass from Fletcher with 14 second left.
 
This win marks the first time in 12 years that the ‘Horns have swept the Dinos, a feat accomplished tonight by finding a way to win, even when the pretty ones don’t work.
 
The Dinos will return home to play the University of Alberta Golden Bears Friday, January 27, while the ‘Horns will face the 8-6 Manitoba Bisons at the 1^st Choice Savings Centre.  Games will be webcast on the home of Canada West basketball, canadawest.tv.