Box Score

Lethbridge – With their hopes of hosting an opening round playoff series on the line, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team rallied from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Calgary Dinos 87-85 in the front half of a home-and-home series. 
 
Heading into the final series of the conference schedule the Pronghorns needed to sweep the Calgary Dinos and hope the Alberta Golden Bears do the same to the Saskatchewan Huskies if they are going to claim second place in the Prairie Division.
 
A balanced attack led the Pronghorns to victory with five players reaching double digits. Playing in potentially their final game at the 1^st Choice Savings Centre, senior guards Alex Fletcher and Logan Reiter had matching 18-point nights to lead the 'Horns. Rob Olsen came off the bench to chip in with 16 points and Brandon Brine and Jared Baker chipped in with 15 and 13 points respectively.
 
The Dinos had four players reach 10 or more points but Josh Turner accounted for a game high 33 points and completed the double-double with 11 rebounds in the loss. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson also registered a double-double for the Dinos with 16 points and 10 boards.
 
Usually a team that relies on the long ball, the Pronghorns struggled mightily from behind the arc, going one for their first 10 attempts, and finished the night only three for 17.
 
After a sluggish opening 10 minutes where both teams shot less than 30% from the floor, the 'Horns were able to get their high octane offence in gear, putting up 27 points while turning a three point deficit after the opening quarter to a 10-point lead at the half.
 
Coming out of the break it looked as if the 'Horns were going to take control of the game. A technical foul called at the end of the half put the 'Horns on the free throw line to start the third quarter and gave them possession afterward, but that would be the highlight of the third for the 'Horns.
 
Reiter hit only one of the two free throws and that seemed to set the tone in the quarter as the Dinos went on an 18-6 run and Jhony Verrone's dunk put the Dinos up 48-47. And the Dinos did not stop there, pouring in another 19 points and a seven point lead with one more quarter to play.

Opening the fourth with consecutive baskets, the Dinos took an 11 point lead but that cued the 'Horns comeback.
 
While the 'Horns poured in another 27 points in the quarter, the Dinos would not go away quietly.

With the Horns up six late, Ogungbemi-Jackson and Turner both hit threes to keep it a two-possession game but the 'Horns were able to hit four of six free throws to seal the victory.

The 'Horns improve to 15-6 on the season, while the Dinos fall to 6-15 with the loss.
 
Game two of the home-and-home series goes tomorrow night in Calgary at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 8:00pm and the game will be streamed live on http://canadawest.tv.