LETHBRIDGE – Looking to stay alive in the Canada West playoff race, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns would defeat the MacEwan University Griffins 89-76.
Heading into the fourth quarter with a nine-point lead, 63-54, the 'Horns would withstand an early push from the Griffins. Lethbridge would open-up a 14-point lead, sparked by a slam dunk in transition by Avery Hutcheson. The Griffins would once again push back thanks to Job Janda and Scottie Austin, trimming the MacEwan deficit to eight, 78-70. However, as he did from tipoff, it would be Tag Layton who would take over the game when his team needed him the most to push the Pronghorns to victory.
With the win, the Pronghorns improve to 5-12, while the Griffins fall to 0-17.
The Pronghorns were led by a career night from rookie guard Tag Layton who scored 28 points on 10 of 18 shooting. Beyond the stats, Layton made an impact on the defensive end, while spacing the floor effectively for the 'Horns. Angelo Mbituyimana would chip in 30 points on 10 of 19 shooting, providing the perfect compliment to Layton throughout the night.
The Griffins were led by 21 points from Job Janda, while Scottie Austin added 13.
The Pronghorns struggled from the field in the first quarter, with only three made baskets on 3 of 13 shooting from the field. However, the physicality of the Pronghorns to drive to the paint would earn them 12 free throw attempts, which Lethbridge would translate to 12 points. The Griffins would outrebound the Pronghorns 13 to 7, as the visitors would take a 21-19 lead into the second quarter.
The second quarter saw the 'Horns clean up their offensive efficiency, connecting on 11 of their 22 baskets. It was a quarter that was dominated by rookie guard Tag Layton, who would connect on three triples, including two in the last thirty seconds. Layton's 13 points in the quarter would propel the 'Horns to a 46-40 lead.
Both offenses would stall in the third quarter, with the teams combining for 8 points in the first five minutes of the quarter. Action would pick up in the back half of the quarter, with both teams pushing the ball down the floor in transition. Tag Layton would showcase his offensive arsenal beyond his three-point shooting, finishing at the rim with contact. With the Pronghorns in an offensive rut late in the quarter, it would be Layton who would secure an offensive rebound and the two. The 'Horns would head into the fourth quarter with a 63-54 lead.
Lethbridge would finish the game off in the fourth quarter to stay alive in the Canada West playoff race.
