EDMONTON - Kymani Pollard scored a game-high 33 points to lead the Lethbridge Pronghorns over the Alberta Golden Bears 75-72 Saturday night in the regular season finale at the Saville Centre.
It was an incredible effort from the fifth-year, who went 12-of-21 from the field with four triples, to go with four rebounds, three assists, and three steals in a true stat sheet stuffing performance. The win pushes the Pronghorns to 7-13, and the eighth position in the Prairie Division, just a heartbreaking spot away from the playoffs.
The Bears played well for the majority of the game, but were outclassed in the physicality department which gave the Pronghorns the slightest winning edge. They were held to a 37% mark from the field, but saw some phenomenal basketball from Isaac Simon who finished with a game-high 22 points.
The Golden Bears finish their season at 13-7, and hold the third seed in the CW playoffs, which means that they are hosting the Play-In/Quarterfinals next weekend. They will play the winner of the Play-In game between the Regina Cougars, and presumably the UFV Cascades should they hold on for a victory tonight.
The Pronghorns jumped out to a quick 11-5 lead on the back of Kymani Pollard who went three-for-three on the opening run. The fifth-year California native would not stop there, as he continually found weak spots in the Alberta defence en route to an incredible 18-point first quarter, one which the Pronghorns won 29-19.
However, Alberta would respond early in the second, going on a 17-7 run midway through the frame propelled forward by Matthew Osunde, who had eight points on two treys and two free throws on the run. Isaac Simon and his heart-and-hustle drives to the basket helped Alberta to knot the game at 44 apiece, right back at a halftime tie as was last night's game. Pollard was the halftime leader with an amazing 25 points on nine-of-15 shooting.
The physicality, and by extension the defence, ratched up in the second half, with Alberta in particular struggling in the third to match the effort and intensity wrought by the visitors. This was reflected in a 20-11 Pronghorns quarter win, which gave them a 64-55 lead headed down the stretch.
Alberta, behind Simon, clawed back early in the fourth, making it a two possession game down 69-65 midway through the frame. However, the Pronghorns would find their footing on the defensive end of the floor, particularly in the rebounding department, and they would hold a 73-66 lead with 1:13 remaining. Then, thanks to some incredible work defensively, they would get the game to 75-72 with a chance to tie after a Caiden Kushnir block. However, a scramble drill after a missed three would go Lethbridge's way and they would hold on for the slim three-point victory.
