POST GAME
LETHBRIDGE - In their home opener of the 2023-24 Canada West season, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns battled to a thrilling finish, dropping a 77-76 decision to the UBC Okanagan Heat. Fans were treated to a tense fourth quarter, which ultimately saw the game decided on the final shot.

BREAKDOWN

• To start the fourth, Shae Gibb found Joe Lemieux who earned the layup. Lethbridge's first lead in the game came with just over nine minutes left as Kevin Ibula capitalized on the open shot from beyond the arc. The Heat missed a jumper on the other end of the floor, giving the Horns an opportunity to add to their lead as Kevin Ibula nailed back-to-back threes putting the Pronghorns up six.
• Down the stretch, both teams exchanged scores but with a three-point lead for the Horns with five minutes left, Heat Head Coach, Clayton Pottinger, called a timeout. A turnover for the Pronghorns gave the ball back to UBCO and Leon Schenker scored from beyond the arc to even the score.
• With the score at 71-70 for the Horns, the Heat turned the ball over giving Kymani Pollard an opportunity from three-point territory and the Horns went up by four.
• Jas Dhudwal earned the jumper for UBCO to tie the game at 74, before Pollard earned a quick score to put the Horns back up with less than two minutes to go.
• With a Heat miss with 43 seconds left on the clock, the Pronghorns got the ball back but were unable to capitalize, turning the ball over.
• UBCO missed their first chance to regain the lead, but a jumper by Hafith Moallin off of the second chance opportunity put the Heat up one with less than two seconds on the clock.
• The Pronghorns got the ball to Kevin Ibula with the hot hand as the clock expired, but UBCO didn't give him any space and he couldn't make the three count, and the Horns lost the battle by a single point.
• Rookie Pronghorn, Joe Lemeuix stood out in his home debut, leading his team in scoring on the night.
• The UBC Okanagan heat looked to take early control of the game, finishing the first quarter up by 13 against the Pronghorns. Contributions in the first quarter came from several Heat players, along with a key three pointer by Leon Schenker. Kymani Pollard scored as the quarter expired to start the turn in momentum towards the Pronghorns' favour, but the score remained 31-22 for the Heat.
• In the second quarter, Lethbridge came out firing as Joe Lemieux earned the two-point hoop, followed by a quick three by Shae Gibb. With the Pronghorns rolling, Brady Baines followed up with a three pointer of his own to bring the score to 33-30 for the visitors.
• In the last minute of the third, Shae Gibb drained another shot from beyond the arc, bringing the Horns within one before the Heat returned fire with a three from Jalen Shirley. As the clock counted down Kymani Pollard put the layup in for the Pronghorns and the score ended 59-57 for the Heat.
• It was ultimately the Heat that would prevail after an exciting fourth quarter.

 
NEXT UP
The teams will run it back tomorrow night, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at the University of Lethbridge Gymnasium.