LETHBRIDGE – With only two weeks of conference action remaining in the first semester, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team will look to rebound from the first losses of the season, hosting the Winnipeg Wesmen for a pair of games.
 
The Pronghorns will welcome the Wesmen to the 1^st Choice Saving Centre Friday and Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. respectively. Tickets can be purchase online at https://uleth.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx. Both games will also be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
A look at the teams:
 
Following four convincing wins to open the season, the Lethbridge Pronghorns (4-2) dropped both games to last year's Canada West finalist Alberta Golden Bears last weekend in Edmonton.
 
Despite being held below 80 points both games last weekend, the Pronghorns still lead the conference in team scoring, averaging 94.9 points per game. The team is also ranked tops in Canada West in three point percentage (38.5%), free throws made per game (19.2), free throws attempted per game (26.8) and steals per game (11.2).
 
Defensively, the Pronghorns dropped to third in team defence, allowing 73.7 points per game.
 
The Wesmen (5-3) have split three of four weekend series to start the season and are coming off a split at home with the Saskatchewan Huskies. Winnipeg's lone sweep came two weeks ago on the road versus the Macewan Griffins.
 
One could expect a high scoring series this weekend, with the Winnipeg's second ranked offence (91.9 ppg) going up against the top scoring team in Lethbridge. Defensively, however, the Wesmen are ranked 11^th, allowing 83.6 points against per game.
 
Stats of note, the Wesmen lead the conference in field goals made per game (33.6), field goals attempted (79.1) and assists per game (18.3).
 
Players to watch:
 
Fourth-year forward Mike Pierzchala leads the Pronghorns attack and sits fourth on the Canada West scoring list, averaging 21 points per game.
 
Senior Zac Overwater sits second on the Pronghorns with 18.5 points per game, which also places him ninth in Canada West scoring and leads the Pronghorns in rebounding with 7.0 rebound per game, while fellow senior Josh Sparkes leads Canada West three point percentage, hitting at 52.6% clip.
 
For the Wesmen, four players average double digits in points but are led by Narcisse Ambanza, who is averaging 19.1 points per game. Ambanza leads Canada West in assist with 41 in eight games but is 44th in assists-to-turnover ratio at 1.5.
 
Sean Tarver is second in Wesmen scoring with 16.9 points per game, while Don Dayrit comes off the bench to average 13.5 points a night.
 
Up Next:
 
The Pronghorns will close out the first semester of Canada West action with a good test, facing the reigning U SPORTS Champion Calgary Dinos in a home-and-home series. The Pronghorns will host the Dinos next Thursday night before wrapping up the first semester of Canada West play Saturday night in Calgary.