LETHBRIDGE – Heading into the home stretch of the Canada West season, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team is in the midst of a skirmish for post-season positioning with six games to play and hosts the Victoria Vikes for a pair important games.
 
The Pronghorns and Vikes will square off at the 1^st Choice Savings Centre Friday night at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed live onwww.canadawest.tv.
 
A look at the teams
 
Entering the third last weekend of conference action, the Pronghorns (7-7) sit in a tie for sixth in the Canada West standings but are ranked eighth in RPI. The top 12 teams qualify for the playoffs. The top 12 teams are then ranked 1 to 12 based on each team's RPI standing in order to account for the various strength of schedules faced by each team.
 
Last weekend, the Pronghorns split their home-and-home series with the Mount Royal Cougars, winning in convincing fashion Thursday night in Calgary before dropping a last minute 104-103 decision Saturday at home.
 
The Vikes (6-8), also coming off a weekend split in their last action, sit one win behind the Pronghorns in the standings but are ranked one spot ahead of the Pronghorns in RPI.
 
Statistically, the Pronghorns are the second highest scoring team in the conference, averaging 93.6 points per game, while the Vikes sit 13^th in team offence, scoring 77.4 points a game.
 
Defensively, the Vikes hold a slight edge, sitting seventh in team defence, allowing 80.1 points per game, the Pronghorns are two spots back in ninth surrendering 81.2 points per game.
 
Players to watch
 
All five of the Pronghorns starters are averaging double digits in points this season led by fifth-year guard Zac Overwater, who sits 10^th in Canada West scoring averaging 18 points per game. He also sits 12^th in rebounding in the conference with 7.7 boards a night.
 
Forward Mike Pierzchala sits second on the Pronghorns with 16.8 points per game and holds the second best free throw percentage in Canada West at 91.1%. Fellow Pronghorn Colton Gibb holds top spot at 91.9% and is averaging 12.4 points per game.
 
Jordan Charles, the lone Vike to start all 14 conference games this season, leads Victoria in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game, while averaging the fourth most minutes per game in Canada West at 34.2 minutes.
 
Fifth-year Victoria product Mason Loewen sits second in Vikes scoring, averaging 14.6 points per contest.
 
Up Next
 
The Pronghorns will remain at home next weekend for the final home games of the Canada West season, hosting the Trinity Western Spartans