Connor Hood, Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON – The Alberta Golden Bears rolled past the Lethbridge Pronghorns with a 86-70 win on Friday night in Game 2, leveling their Canada West quarter-final series at 1-1.
The Golden Bears never trailed on Friday night, and forced a winner-take-all Game 3, tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.
Ivan Ikomey led the Bears with 18 points in an incredibly efficient performance, making six of his nine shots and 4/6 from three. Brody Clarke added 16 points and four rebounds, while Andre Kelly added 14 off the bench.
Mike Pierzchala led Lethbridge with 21 points, but as a team they shot just 30.4%. Alberta, by comparison, finished the night shooting 46.3%.
Both team's defensive units had another strong opening quarter, as both teams struggled to get open looks. Alberta mustered just 18 points on 29% shooting, but held a 18-10 led thanks to their stingy defence. Overwater made just one of his five shots, as the Pronghorns only made four of their 19 shots in a tough first quarter.
Clarke, who was held in check on Thursday, poured in six of his 16 in the first.
Both teams returned to form in the second, combining for 46 points in a back-and-forth shootout. Ikomey lead the Bears with eight points in the quarter, while Kyle Peterson responded for Lethbridge with 10 on a perfect 3/3 shooting clip.
Lethbridge couldn't keep pace in the third, as they were completely stuffed by the Bears defence. The 'Horns shot just 3/13 in the third, mustering just 13 points.
The Bears had no trouble finding the lanes, pouring in another 25 to take a commanding 19-point lead after three. Ikomey stretched his point total to 18 after 30 minutes, while Clarke added 14 through three
After his stellar performance in Game 1, Overwater couldn't find his touch, struggling offensively all night. He finished with just six points on 1/12 shooting, in his worst performance of the season.
Both teams finished the fourth quarter with the bench players seeing action, as Alberta easily held on for the 16-point win.
Game 3 will get underway tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. in Edmonton.