Calgary – It took an extra five minutes to complete but the Lethbridge Pronghorns opened the second semester of conference action with a  84-82 win over the Mount Royal Cougars.

Alex Fletcher, who's three forced overtime, and Logan Reiter led the Pronghorns in scoring, dropping 17 points each. Awet Abraha also scored 17 for the Cougars.

Mount Royal found out early that Lethbridge was a threat from three point land as they buried their first field goal of the game from beyond the arc. The Cougars came right back as the teams swapped leads back and forth throughout the first. At 9-9 the Pronghorns went on a 9-0 run to open up a sizeable lead that they would keep until the end of the quarter. After one quarter of play Lethbridge led 21-15.

The Cougars clawed back in the second half but the deep threat of the Pronghorns was hard to contain. Mount Royal changed up their game plan and began to shoot from the outside as well. Deng Awak knocked down a big three to cut the lead to four. With time ticking down in the quarter Jared Cornish grabbed a loose ball and threw up a prayer that banked in for three and Mount Royal trailed 34-32 at the half.

When play resumed the Cougar's shooting was still hot and they knocked down a number of field goals. Mount Royal attacked from outside, then they pounded it back inside to keep the Pronghorns on their toes. Despite the Cougar's surge Lethbridge stayed close and kept the game within reach. Lethbridge trailed 52-49 at the end of the third.

Offense was the name of the game as the fourth started. Each team traded threes to keep the defenders honest then threw it back in to their big men for some easy layups. Awet Abraha continued to have the hot hand as another three put the Cougars up 67-62. Right back down the court the Brandon Brine of Lethbridge buried a three of his own to keep the game close. A slick drive by James Lefebvre padded the Cougar's lead but Lethbridge was still in the thick of it. With the Cougars up three with 23 seconds to go Alex Fletcher buried a triple to tie the game at 75 and send it to overtime.

Morgan Duce drained a long three for Lethbridge on their first possession of overtime. A 7-0 run for the Pronghorns stunned the Cougars and Coach Marc Dobell was forced to take a timeout. The Cougars got to within two but their turnovers cost them and Lethbridge killed the clock forcing Mount Royal to foul. Abraha hit a late three to get within one but time ran out on the Cougars and Lethbridge took the game 84-82.

With the loss Mount Royal drops to 5-6 on the season. The win puts Lethbridge at 8-3, good for third in the Prairie Division.

Lethbridge will board a plane to head up to Prince George to play UNBC on Saturday night.