LETHBRIDGE – For the third year in a row, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team will host a Canada West playoff game and will host the Victoria Vikes in a one game play-in with the winner advancing to a best of three Canada West quarter-final.
 
The Pronghorns and Vikes will square off at the 1^st Choice Savings Centre Friday night at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.uleth.ca/tickets. . All students kindergarten to grade 12 will get free admission to Friday's game.
 
The game will be webcast live on pay-per-view at canadawest.tv.
 
A look at the teams
 
Two years ago the Pronghorns (12-8) hosted the Vikes (10-10) for a best of three series, sweeping the Vikes two games straight and, earlier in January this season, the Pronghorns swept the Vikes in Lethbridge winning by scores of 84-65 and 82-66.
 
Following an up-and-down first semester, the Pronghorns won eight of 10 games since January.
 
After losing to the Pronghorns, the Vikes won their final four games to qualify for the playoffs but all of their wins came over teams that did not qualify for the post-season.
 
In a clash of styles, the Pronghorns finished the season as the top offensive team in Canada West averaging 94.8 points per game, whereas Victoria was ranked 12^th in team offence, scoring 79 points per game.
 
On the other side of the ball, the Vikes finished the regular season ranked fifth in the conference in team defense, allowing 77.3 points per game. The Pronghorns were only two spots behind the Vikes ranked seventh, allowing 80.3 points against.
 
In addition to leading the conference in scoring, the Pronghorns had the top field goal percentage (47.5%) in Canada West, assists per game (17.6) and free throw percentage (74.9%). Lethbridge was also ranked second in free throws made (16.9) and steals per game (10.3).
 
Players to watch
 
Relying on a balanced attack, all five of the Pronghorns starters averaged double digits in points during the regular season but senior Zac Overwater led the team with 19.1 points per game. Last weekend Overwater became the third all-time leading scorer in Pronghorn history and finished with 1388 career points.
 
Mike Pierzchala and Colton Gibb finished second and third in Pronghorns scoring with 15 and 12.7 points per game respectively, while Eric Pierce finished the conference schedule averaging 12.3 points in his first season as a Pronghorn.
 
For the Vikes, the trio of Jordan Charles, Mason Loewen and Scott Kellum led the offensive attack. Charles led the team with 16.6 points per game, followed by Loewen with 14.5 points. Kellum was third with 13.7 points per game.
 
Up Next
 
The winner of Friday's elimination game will advance to a best of three quarter-final and the opponent will depend on who else advances from the one game play-in series.