LETHBRIDGE - After a frantic finish the previous night that saw the home side fall in the last minute, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns outlasted the University of Manitoba Bisons in overtime, 84-79, to pick up a weekend split.
 
Down by as many 11 points at the start of the third quarter, the Pronghorns showcased grit and resiliency in battling back from a 46-35, and 51-40 deficit to enter the final quarter down by four points, 58-54. After a quick burst by the Bisons to make it 62-56, the Pronghorns began to fire on all cylinders.
 
The engine that would power the Pronghorns in their comeback was third-year forward Chad Oviatt. With the 'Horns needing a basket, Oviatt would come up big, scoring on three consecutive offensive possessions. Driving to the basket, Oviatt would lay-in the ball on all three trips, putting the Pronghorns within two, 64-62. From that point on, the teams would trade baskets, with the key players from both teams willing their teams through. For the 'Horns, Kyle Peterson, Keanu Funa, and Colton Gibb would lead the offensive charge, while Rashawn Browne, Keiran Zziwa, and Cameron O'Hara would score for the visitors.
 
After the Pronghorns took their first lead of the second half, 70-68 at the 2:42 mark of the final quarter, both teams would tighten up defensively to finish the game. The teams would trade trips to the free throw line to finish the game, with both teams struggling to sink their shots at the charity stripe. With the game tied 71-71, the 'Horns would have possession with a chance to win the game. Keanu Funa would receive the final shot and be fouled with 2.6 seconds remaining but would be unable to capitalize on either of his free throws, sending the game to overtime.
 
The overtime period would start much the same way as the end of the fourth quarter, with both teams given the chance to get ahead from the free throw line. With most trips to the line ending in one make and onemiss, the 'Horns would take a 75-74 lead into the final two minutes of the overtime frame. The hero for most of the night, Oviatt would come up big for the Pronghorns, drawing an and-one to make it 77-74. After missing the free throw, a Bisons turnover would see Keanu Funa drive to the basket to put the 'Horns up 79-74. As Oviatt was trying to play hero for Lethbridge, Keiran Zziwa would step up for Manitoba, hitting a three pointer with a minute remaining to trim the deficit to 79-77. A Bisons miss would then see Brett Warren make a shot clock beating jumper to put the 'Horns back up 81-77, before Keiran Zziwa would storm right back to make it 81-79. Oviatt would ultimately triumph as the hero of the game, sinking a game clinching three pointer with 6.7 second remaining to give the 'Horns the 84-79 victory.
 
With the win, the Pronghorns improve to 2-4 on the season, while the Bisons suffer their first loss of the season and drop to 3-1.
 
The home side was led by Oviatt, who posted a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Kyle Peterson added 15 points and 5 assists, while Colton Gibb, Keanu Funa, and Brett Warren put in 13, 12, and 11 points a piece. The 'Horns shot a respectable 42% on the night (31 of 74) while outrebounding the Bisons 53-45.
 
The Bisons were led by James Wagner, who also posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Keiran Zziwa contributed 19 points and 7 rebounds, while Rashawn Browne scored 14 points.
 
Both teams struggled from the free throw line, with the Pronghorns capitalizing on only 18 of 28 opportunities, and the Bisons 19 of 32.
 
Both teams would start the game battling. Following a quick 5-2 run from the 'Horns thanks to a bucket from Kyle Peterson and a three from Colton Gibb, the Bisons would respond with a 7-3 run of their own. A Keanu Funa basket would settle the game down and provide the 'Horns with a 10-9 lead. Both teams struggled offensively until the final two minutes of the quarter, which saw an offensive outpour from the 'Horns. Colton Gibb would cap off the Horns' 9 points in 120 seconds with a buzzer beating layup, while drawing an and-one foul.
 
After six turnovers in the first quarter hindered the Bisons from generating offense, the Bisons would take care of the ball and begin running their offense. Led by James Wagner and Rashawn Browne, Manitoba would outscore the Pronghorns 12-6 in the first five minutes of the quarter to take a 27-25 lead at the 5:15 mark. Browne would seemingly be unable to miss, scoring on multiple off-balance jumpers that were tightly contested. The Bisons would keep their foot on the gas, with Keiran Zziwa providing a third option. He would score seven points in two minutes, putting the Bisons up by ten, 39-29. Kyle Peterson would refuse to give up, scoring off a hesitation step, before finding a streaking Chad Oviatt with a perfect pass into the paint. Tensions would begin to rise between both teams as physical play from both sides would see the Bisons take a 42-35 lead into halftime.
 
With Jeff Rodehutskors in foul trouble with three fouls to enter the quarter, the Bisons took advantage of a smaller Pronghorns lineup. With no protection in the paint, Manitoba would continually exploit the 'Horns down low, drawing fouls in the quarter. With the score at 51-40 at the four-minute mark of the quarter, Kyle Peterson would draw a foul for the 'Horns to end a lengthy Bisons run. The Pronghorns would then turn up the heat with a 10-0 run. Chad Oviatt would first score a contested layup, Jeff Rodehutskors would draw a foul, and then Keanu Funa scoring a transition layup to cut the Bisons lead to three, 51-48. The Bisons would call timeout, and on the ensuing possession, Kyle Peterson would find a streaking Jeff Rodehutskors in the low post to cut the deficit to one, 51-50. Manitoba would once again find their shooting to close the quarter, taking a 58-54 lead into the final frame.
 
The fourth quarter would prove to be a battle, leading to an overtime period that would see the Pronghorns prevail.
 
The Pronghorns will head west next weekend as they make a visit to Abbotsford to face the University of Fraser Valley Cascades, before travelling to UBC the following weekend to close out the first half of the season. The Bisons will play a home-and-home with the Winnipeg Wesman, before hosting the UFV Cascades to finish off the first semester of conference action.