LETHBRIDGE, AB – After suffering a 27-point loss on Friday, the University of Victoria Vikes men's basketball team could not fight back and split the series with the Lethbridge Pronghorns, losing the series' finale 81-74 at the First Choice Savings Centre on Nov. 28. The loss sends the Vikes into the semester break on a three-game losing streak at 5-3. The 'Horns move up the Canada West Pioneer Division standings at 5-1.

[BOX SCORE]

Jordan Charles shot 6-for-12 from the field for the Vikes with 17 points and four rebounds, while Grant Sitton and Brandon Dunlop each had 15 points on the night.

Dejon Burdeaux had his best game as a Pronghorn, leading all scorers with 26 points, while adding seven rebounds, six steals and five assists. Brandon Brine chipped in with 19 points and Zac Overwater added 15 points in the win.

The opening half of the rematch was a back-and-forth affair with both teams matching basket for basket. Both teams opened the game with a hot hand and a Brandon Dunlop three as the buzzer sounded left the 'Horns up 26-24 at the first break.

The 'Horns were 66.7 per cent from the floor in the opening quarter, while the Vikes shot 9-for-15, including 3-for-6 from behind the arc. While the Vikes out rebounded the 'Horns 8-3, the 'Horns did not turn over the ball once in the quarter.

Out of the break, the 'Horns continued the hot hand with five straight points from Burdeaux and a Rob Olsen three-pointer put the home side up 32-24. But the Vikes would not go away and at the half the 'Horns held a slim 43-39 lead.

After taking care of the ball so well in the opening quarter, turnovers plagued the 'Horns in the second quarter, turning the ball over eight times and allowing the Vikes extra possessions to keep the game close.

When the 'Horns were able to get shots off in their possessions, they remained hot and finished the half shooting at 63.3 per cent. Burdeaux was exceptional for the 'Horns, only missing two shots and putting up 18 points in the half. The Vikes did cool in the second, finishing 14-for-31, but hit seven threes and turned Pronghorn turnovers into seven points.

The toe-to-toe battled continued into the third quarter as the Vikes swung the game in their favor. A 7-0 run put the Vikes up 57-52, but the 'Horns would answer with arun of their own, punctuated by a Burdeaux three point play to regain the lead.

With five minutes remaining and the game still hanging in the balance, the 'Horns turned a 70-68 lead into a nine-point cushion, ripping off another 7-0 run and holding the Vikes off rest of the way.

The Vikes will welcome the Manitoba Bisons after the semester break to the CARSA Performance Gym Jan. 8-9. Lethbridge are on the road for the first two weekends of 2016 before returning home to host the Bisons Jan. 22-23. All games can be streamed live on canadawest.tv. 

Game Summary:                
            1        2        3        4        F
UVIC:  24     15      20      15      74
LETH: 26      17     18      20      81
 
Scoring Summary:
UVIC: J. Charles (17), G. Sitton (15), B. Dunlop (15)
LETH: D. Burdeaux (26), B. Brine (19), Z. Overwater (15)