Lethbridge – Following a successful four game home stand to open the conference schedule, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men’s basketball team (3-1 CW) heads out on the road, traveling north to face the Alberta Golden Bears (3-1 CW).
 
Through the first four games, the ‘Horns sit tied for first in the Prairie Division with the Bears and are among the leaders in many of the conference’s offensive categories. The ‘Horns lead Canada West in scoring, averaging 91.8 points per game. The ‘Horns also lead the conference in three pointers made with 41, free throw percentage (78.3%), assists and are second in field goal percentage (48.3%).
 
With five players averaging double digits, the ‘Horns have been propelled by a balanced attack and have had a different player lead the team in points in each of the team’s four conference games thus far. Fifth-year senior Derek Waldner leads the way, averaging 16.5 points and 8 rebounds a game. Fellow fifth-year Julian Spear Chief-Morris and Morgan Duce rank second and third respectively averaging 14.5 and 14.3 points per game.
 
At the other end of the floor, the ‘Horns are ranked 13^th defensively, allowing 86 points per game but are third in the conference in scoring margin at +5.8 points.
 
For the Golden Bears, it will be the second time in four years a new coach is at the helm of the program and this time it will be a familiar face for Pronghorn fans. Former Pronghorn All-Canadian Barnaby Craddock takes over a Bears program that won the Canada West title last season and lost in the CIS Championship game to the Carleton Ravens.
 
Ironically, Craddock was on the other side during the Canada West Championship, with his then Fraser Valley Cascades losing by one point in the Championship game.
 
Coming off a season opening sweep of the Brandon Bobcats, the Bears split their two game series last weekend in Calgary versus the Dinos.
After four games, the Bears could be considered the exact opposite of the ‘Horns and have been successful thus far on the strength of their defence. The Bears are ranked fourth defensively in the conference, allowing only 72.8 points per game but are ranked 10^th offensively.
 
First-team All-Canadian Jordan Baker leads the Bears in scoring, averaging 19.8 points per game, while CIS Championship tournament all-star Sahr Saffa has only played one game thus far and scored 19 points in that game.
 
The Bears defeated the ‘Horns 77-75 at the Guy Vetrie Memorial Tournament in Victoria in October.
 
Tip-off for both Friday and Saturday night’s game is scheduled to follow the women’s game at 8:00pm and Both games will be broadcast at www.canadawest.tv, home for all Canada West webcasts.
 
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