EDMONTON – Looking to rebound from a loss a night earlier, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team came out firing in the second half but couldn't overcome a slow start, falling 82-73 to the consensus top team in Canada West, the Alberta Golden Bears Saturday night in Edmonton.
 
Holding a 45-33 lead at the half, the Bears had to withstand a ferocious second-half surge from Lethbridge, which saw them outscore the Bears 24-17 in the third. The Saturday win gives the Bears the season-opening sweep, while the loss drops Lethbridge to 1-3 this season.
 
Four 'Horns finished with double-digit point totals, led by 15 each from De'Andre Pierre and Moreau Darlington, with Chad Oviatt and Jeff Rodehutskors scoring 12 a piece.
 
Fifth-year guard Tyus Jefferson dropped a game-high 20 points, leading the Alberta Golden Bears, while Geoffrey James added 18 points and five boards, with Adam Paige scoring 17, including eight points in the fourth quarter to ice the win.

The Bears smothered Lethbridge in the opening quarter, allowing just 10 points on 4/16 shooting, holding a 18-10 lead. Jefferson scored eight of his 20 in the first, with no other player on either team scoring more than three.

Turnovers plagued Lethbridge in the first half, with Alberta scoring 20 points off Pronghorn miscues, compared to just two points scored for the visitors off Bears turnovers. A strong shooting quarter from both sides saw Alberta outscore Lethbridge 27-23 in the second, as they held a 12-point lead. 

The 'Horns caught fire in the third, trimming the Bears lead down to five thanks to 24 points on an absurd 73% shooting quarter. Pierre scored 10 of his 15 in the third, with Oviatt adding six.

However, despite numerous chances to tie the game early in the fourth, the Bears were able to withstand the Lethbridge surge, with Jefferson and Paige hitting key buckets late to secure the home win.

The Pronghorns will be off for conference action for the next two weeks with their bye next week and a conference wide week off the following week, however the Pronghorns will play the Saskatchewan Huskies in non-conference action next Friday in Moose Jaw. The Pronghorns will return to conference action November 26^th and 27^th in Calgary versus the Mount Royal Cougars.