LETHBRIDGE – Following a strong opening home weekend, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team heads out on the road this weekend, traveling to Kelowna to face the UBCO Heat.
 
The Pronghorns and Heat will follow the women's game both Friday and Saturday night with action slated for 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time respectively. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv.
 
A look at the teams
 
Coming off a season opening bye, the Pronghorns kick off the new Canada West season in style with a dominant win, 92-54 over the MacEwan Griffins Friday night. While Saturday night's game was closer for most of the night,  a late run propelled the Pronghorns to a 96-79 win.
 
After two games, the Pronghorns are ranked tops in Canada West offensively, averaging 94 points a game during last weekend's sweep. At the other end of the floor, the Pronghorns are ranked the second best defensive team, allowing 66.5 points against.
 
The Heat have been off to a hot start this season, winning all four conference games they have played and are led by a familiar face to Pronghorn basketball fans. Former Pronghorn head coach Ken Olynyk was named the interim head coach of the Heat this off-season.
 
Olynyk was the head coach of the Pronghorn men's basketball team for nine seasons, leading the Pronghorns to the program's lone Canada West Championship in 1986. Olynyk was the Athletic Director at Thompson River from 2003 to 2017.
 
Players to Watch
 
Returning to the program after sitting out last season, Mike Pierzchala made an immediate impact in his return and led the Pronghorns in scoring last weekend, averaging 21.5 points in the two games.
 
Canada West third team all-star last season, Zac Overwater also had a good start to his final season as a Pronghorn and sits second behind Pierzchala in Pronghorn scoring at 18.5 points per game. Overwater also sits fifth in Canada West rebounding with 9.5 rebounds per game.
 
With four starters averaging double digits in points, the Heat have used a balanced attack to pace the early season success. Triston Matthews leads the Heat with 18.8 points per game, while Aldrich Berrios sits second at 17 points a night.
 
Up Next:
 
The Pronghorns will be on the road again next weekend, traveling to Edmonton to face the Alberta Golden Bears. The Bears eliminated the Pronghorns from the playoffs last season in the Canada West semi-final two games straight