EDMONTON - The Winnipeg Wesmen staged an incredible comeback, erasing a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to shock the Alberta Golden Bears 85-83 in overtime Saturday night at the Saville Centre.
Amid a raucous Edmonton crowd, Alberta appeared to have the game in hand after dominating through three quarters. However, an inspired effort from the Wesmen, led by Alberto Gordo's game-high 22 points, turned the tide, forcing overtime and ultimately sealing the win.
Turnovers were a critical factor in Alberta's collapse, with the Bears committing 12 in the final two quarters compared to Winnipeg's four. This disparity contributed to a lopsided 31-11 margin in points off turnovers in favor of the Wesmen. Despite the loss, Isaac Simon matched Gordo's 22 points in a valiant effort for the Bears.
With the defeat, the Bears fall to 3-5 as they head into the break seeking answers. Meanwhile, the Wesmen remain undefeated at 7-0, sitting atop the Prairie Division standings.
Alberta opened the game with authority, outscoring the Wesmen 24-16 in the first quarter. Isaac Simon electrified the crowd with a poster dunk, and Logan Powell capped the frame with a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Both players led the Bears with eight points in the opening period.
The Bears maintained their dominance in the second quarter, fueled by Powell's six points en route to a team-high 14 at halftime. Alberta's sharpshooting—9-for-21 from beyond the arc—helped them build a commanding 46-31 lead at the break. Winnipeg's Lamar Everd led the visitors with seven points in the half.
After halftime, Alberta's offensive momentum continued, highlighted by third-year Fahad Yusuf, who knocked down two threes. The Bears outscored the Wesmen 19-14 in the third quarter, taking a seemingly insurmountable 65-45 lead into the fourth.
Winnipeg flipped the script in the fourth quarter with a remarkable 33-13 run, spearheaded by Ryan Luke and Alberto Gordo. Trailing 77-71 with just 25 seconds remaining, Gordo drained a critical pull-up three to cut the deficit to three. Following an Alberta free throw, Lamar Everd made a layup, then stole the inbounds pass and was fouled. He split his free throws, leaving the Bears clinging to a slim lead. Another turnover sent Donald Stewart to the line, but his one-of-two trip tied the game, and a missed Alberta attempt sent the contest to overtime.
Overtime was a chaotic back-and-forth affair. Winnipeg struck first with a Gordo bucket, while Alberta struggled from the free-throw line, converting only two of five attempts. Trailing 84-83 with 15 seconds remaining, the Bears had a chance to win, but Nash Semeniuk's game-winning three-point attempt was blocked, sealing the Wesmen's 85-83 triumph.
The teams will resume play on January 10th, with the Bears traveling to Lethbridge to face the Pronghorns and the Wesmen hosting the Calgary Dinos.
