Lethbridge - With their playoff lives on the line, the Pronghorns came out with a new level of energy and a sense of urgency, going toe-to-toe with the fifth-ranked Huskies to pull off the 88-83 upset.
With the win the 'Horns improve to 7-10 and keep their playoff hopes alive. With the Manitoba Bisons on a bye this weekend, the 'Horns move within two games of the Bisons but will have to win their final three games of the season and hope for some help next weekend as the Bisons hold the tie breaker .
The loss drops the Huskies to 12-5 on the season and snaps an eight-game winning streak. The loss also drops the Huskies out of a first place tie in the Pioneer Division after the Victoria Vikes beat the Brandon Bobcats.
For the entire opening quarter the teams went back and forth, trading not only baskets but turnovers. In the end the 'Horns held a 18-15 lead after the first 10 minutes with both teams committing six turnovers.
Despite both teams struggling to take care of the ball, when they did get shots off, both the Huskies and 'Horns had an exceptional shooting quarter. The Huskies were 50% from the floor and the 'Horns were even better, hitting over 58%.
Riding one of their better quarters of the season, the 'Horns were even more impressive in the second. With fourth-year guard Rob Olsen and freshman guard Zac Overwater leading the charge, the Pronghorns built a 14-point lead at the half. Olsen picked up 14 first half points and Overwater was a perfect 5 for 5 from the field en route to 13 points as the 'Horns poured in 30 points in the second and held a 48-32 lead.
For the 'Huskies, Connor Burns led the way with 10 points, while Huskies leading scorer Dadrian Collins was held pointless in the half.
Despite shooting the lights out in the first half and then opening a 21-point lead early in the third, the 'Horns went cold later in the third, only hitting six total shots in the quarter while the Huskies climbed all the way back with a 32 point explosion. A Ben Baker bucket at the end the third sent the 'Huskies into the final quarter up 64-62 setting up a wild final 10 minutes.
Continuing his hot hand, Overwater opened the fourth with a basket to knot the score and kick start a 9-2 run to give the 'Horns the lead back but neither team would give an inch and it went down to the wire.
Olsen's three to put the 'Horns up five with less than a minute to play looked to be the dagger the 'Horns needed but a pair of Huskies free throws from Collins and a forced Pronghorn turnover gave the Huskies some life with 20 seconds remaining.
Off a Collins long three miss, Shane Osayand was able to out jump the 'Horns big men and tip the ball in cutting the lead to one with 13.4 second left. With no time outs remaining and forced to foul, the 'Huskies could not get the miss they needed from the charity stripe as Olsen and Jason Nysten hit both of their free throws to seal the win.
Olsen led all scorers on the night with 30 points for the Pronghorns, while Overwater was 9 for 12 from the floor for 23 points.
Following a scoreless opening half, Collins led the Huskies comeback, scoring 17 second half points to lead the Huskies. Ben Baker chipped in with 15 and Connor Burns had 12.
The 'Horns and Huskies will hit the hardwood again tomorrow night at the 1st Choice Savings Centre. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm and the game will also be streamed live on http://canadawest.tv.