LETHBRIDGE – Following a weekend split in a return to Canada West action, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team hits the road and will get a tough early season test in Edmonton, taking on the Alberta Golden Bears at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
 
The Pronghorns and Bears will hit the hardwood Friday night at 8:00 pm and Saturday night at 7:00 pm. Both games will be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv, presented by Co-op.
 
Over the past four seasons, the Pronghorns and Bears have faced each other in the Canada West post-season and the Bears have gotten the better of the Pronghorns each year. In their last match up, the Bears beat the Pronghorns 92-81 in the Canada West quarter-final.
 
A look at the teams
 
Opening the new season with a hard fought split against the Calgary Dinos, the Pronghorns (1-1) will look to build on positives from both games. Friday night, the Pronghorns were on the right side of a one point victory only the have the Dinos return the favor in another one point game Saturday.
 
Veteran guard Chad Oviatt picked up where he left off after the 2019-20 season and recorded double-doubles in both games last weekend. Oviatt sits fourth in Canada West rebounding through two games, averaging 11 rebounds per game.
 
Newcomer Moreau Darlington made an exceptional first impression to the Pronghorn faithful last Friday night with a game high 30 points and he sits tied for seventh in Canada West scoring with 20 points per game.
 
Once again the path to a Canada West title looks to go through Edmonton this season. The Bears were ranked #1 in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll and will host the U SPORTS Championship tournament this March. 
The Bears went 19-1 during the 2019-20 Canada West season to finish first but lost in the Canada West final to the UBC Thunderbirds.
 
Gone from the 2019-20 team are leading scorer Brody Clark and guard Ivan Ikomey but third-year forward Adam Paige will be a key performer for the Bears to return to the national title picture.
 
Paige finished second to Clarke in team scoring in 2019-20, averaging 12.9 points per game.
 
Former Pronghorn Colton Gibb, who entered medical school at the University of Alberta will also suit up for the Golden Bears this season.
 
Up Next
 
With a bye next week and a buffer week built into the schedule the following week, the Pronghorns are off from conference action for two weeks. The Pronghorns are scheduled to play the Saskatchewan Huskies in Moose Jaw on November 12^th in a non-conference game but won't see Canada West action until November 26^th and 27^th traveling to Calgary to face the Mount Royal Cougars.