Box Score
EDMONTON – Making their first appearance in the second round in 16 years, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team couldn't overcome a sluggish first quarter and dropped game one of their Canada West quarter-final with the Alberta Golden Bears 80-59 
 
This was the first Canada West playoff meeting between the provincial foes since 2000, when the Golden Bears knocked off Lethbridge in Game 3 of the conference final. 
 
Fourth-year forward Mamadou Gueye finished with a double-double, recording game-high's of 20 points and 10 boards. Geoff Pippus, Austin Waddoups and Dwan Williams also scored in the double digits, with Pippus' 14 points the next highest on the Bears. 
 
Zac Overwater led the 'Horns with 18 points on just 4/15 shooting, but made 10 of his 13 free throws on Thursday. Elliot Sentance also had himself a strong outing in the loss, totalling 14 points, nine boards and an assist. 
 
Despite entering Game 1 riding a three game win streak, including a series sweep last weekend and a double overtime win over Alberta in the conference finale, the Lethbridge Pronghorns came out completely flat on Thursday. The 'Horns scored just six first quarter points, shooting a paltry 2/17 in the opening quarter. The Bears took advantage of a 42% shooting quarter, thanks to six from Pippus on a pair of threes, to take a 20-6 lead. 
 
Neither team shot well in the second frame, as the Bears allowed the visitors to get back into the game with a stronger showing in the second. Overwater scored seven of his 18 in the quarter, while Dejon Burdeaux dropped in four points, as an 8-0 Lethbridge run cut the Alberta lead to just eight at the half. 
 
The teams exchanged runs throughout the third, with the Bears going up by as much as 14, before a pair of late rallies by Lethbridge cutting the Alberta lead back to eight entering the fourth.
 
However, the depth of the Bears proved to be too much for Lethbridge to overcome, as they were outscored 29-16 in the fourth. Gueye went off in the final quarter, scoring 10 points alone on 5/6 shooting, adding six rebounds and an assist. Waddoups, Williams and Pippus also combined for 10 of the Bears 29 points in the dominating quarter. 
 
The Pronghorns will look to extend the series to a third game tomorrow night, with Game 2 set for 8:00 p.m. at Saville Community Sports Centre. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv