Box Score WINNIPEG — Coming off a big win Friday night, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team could not complete the important weekend sweep of the Winnipeg Wesmen, falling 79-70 in an exciting game in Winnipeg.
Fifth-year forward Brandon Brine led the way for the Pronghorns with a 19 point-10 rebound double-double and after going scoreless Friday night Dejon Burdeaux rebounded with a double-double of his own with 12 points and 10 rebounds. For the Wesmen, Ryan Oribans led the way with a double-double as well with a game high 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Unlike Friday night when the Wesmen had an insurmountable 10-point deficit to make up after the first quarter, the home side trailed by only two points (15-13) after the opening 10 minutes in the second game of the weekend doubleheader.
The Pronghorns lead vanished early in the second quarter as Oirbans tied the game and Denzel Lynch-Blair had the hot hand for the Wesmen in the quarter as he led his team to a 33-25 advantage at the half. Lynch-Blair, a second-year guard, had 10 points, three boards for the Wesmen in the first half, and Oirbans had six and seven.
Brine led the Pronghorns with seven points, while second-year forward Zac Overwater had five points and Burdeaux had six boards in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Wesmen maintained their lead at first, but the Pronghorns fought back to close within two points late in the quarter, which had Wesmen coach Mike Raimbault signalling for a timeout to address his troops. The timeout helped regroup the Wesmen and slowed the Pronghorns momentum and the home side regained some of its advantage to lead 51-45 at the half.
The Pronghorns chipped away at the Wesmen lead in the fourth quarter and eventually tied the game at 64-64 with less than four minutes to play. Winnipeg regained a five-point lead and were able to hold off the Pronghorns when they hit their free throws in the final minute.
In addition to Oirbans the Wesmen had three other players in double-digit points, Lynch-Blair (15), Jelane Pryce (17, plus nine boards) and William Sesay (15). The Pronghorns were led by their own Australian Brine with 19 points, 10 boards and Burdeaux with 12 points, 10 rebounds.
The loss drops the 'Horns record to 10-8 and a long jam in the Pioneer Division standings with only one weekend remaining. The 'Horns, Wesmen, Regina Cougars and Alberta Golden Bears all have 10 wins and jockeying for positioning. Depending on outcomes of next weekend's games, the 'Horns can finish anywhere from fourth to seventh.
