POST GAME
In a gripping contest that unfolded down to the wire, the Pronghorns and the Cougars clashed in a battle that concluded with the Pronghorns narrowly falling 85-84. Keivonte Watts carried the Cougars, earning 40 points off an exceptional 16/22 shooting performance, while Kymani Pollard played a big role for the Horns, earning 25 points from the floor, complimented by 18 points from Shae Gibb.

BREAKDOWN

• It came down to the last possession, but the Pronghorns were unable to earn a weekend split, falling 85-84 to the Cougars. It was a duel between a 25 point effort from Kymani Pollard for the 'Horns and a 40 point effort from Kevonte Watts for the Cougars. The Pronghorns set the tone early and looked to rebound from the down to the wire defeat against Mount Royal the previous night.
• Jack-Henry Fox-Grey started the scoring for the Pronghorns, helped by points from Parker Fleming, Brady Baines and Shae Gibb to give the Pronghorns a 23-18 lead to end the opening frame.
• Keivonte Watts continued to be dominant for the Cougars, finding a way to get bucket after bucket for the visitors despite Shae Gibb refusing to give up any room on defense. Pronghorn Head Coach, Kenny Otieno called a timeout for the Pronghorns to regroup as Mount Royal tied it up at 30 off Watts' 20^th point of the game, getting the three-point shot to fall only fifteen minutes into the matchup.
• Holt Tomie contributed to the scoring for the Cougars, getting his 12^th of the game to help MRU to get the advantage through the second quarter. Late in the second frame, Kymani Pollard forced the Cougars' defense to collapse, leaving Brady Baines open outside. A pump fake from Baines sent the MRU defender flying and Baines earned the three-pointer for the Horns to bring the score back within one. As time expired in the first half of play, the visiting Cougars finished up 48-45 over the Pronghorns.
• With the Horns adjusting to send the double-team to stop Watts in the second half, Watts was able to find the Daniel Mulder for the dunk. While Karter Fry was able to show his skill and size down low for the Pronghorns, Watts did not back down, earning the layup and foul to bring his total to 33 in three quarters of play.
• Kymani Pollard earned the make from beyond the arc to keep the Pronghorns within reach. The Pronghorns fought for every second chance opportunity, refusing to give up, as the third quarter ended with MRU up 72-66.
• Shae Gibb converted on a three-point attempt early in the fourth quarter to bring the home team back within three points. On the other end, Watts hit yet another three for the Cougars, earning his 38^th of the game, shooting an impressive 75% from field goal range.
• Kymani Pollard tied it for the Pronghorns, earning an opportunity to give the Horns the lead with just over two minutes left off a foul by the Cougar's Sam Barnie, but Pollard was unable to make the free throw count. Pollard earned another opportunity to put the Pronghorns up with just over one minute left on the game clock and he didn't miss, earning the corner three.
• The crowd erupted when the Pronghorns came up with the stop on the Cougar's late game offensive effort, but on the rebound the Horns were called with a foul. Sam Barnie made both attempts count from the line. The Pronghorns had one more chance in the head-to-head showdown, but the late shot was off target and the final score ended 85-84.

POST GAME
The next Pronghorn matchup takes place on road in Prince George, BC on Friday, January 5, 2024 as the Horns face the University of Northern British Columbia.