The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's basketball team look to become road warriors as the 2019-20 Canada West regular season draws to a close this weekend.
 
The WolfPack (11-7), losers of their last four outings—including two on the road—will visit the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (8-10).   The teams play Friday and Saturday (Feb 7-8).   Tip off time is:  8 PM MDT and 7 PM MDT.

It is the first time Thompson Rivers has played in Southern Alberta since 2013.

Lethbridge is 3-5 at home and have won their last four outings including a sweep of the MacEwan Griffins last weekend (Jan 31-Feb 1) in Edmonton, AB.  The Pack are 5-3 on the road this year and were swept last weekend (Jan 31-Feb1) at home by the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.

On Saturday,  the Pronghorns will recognize their two fifth year players: Kyle Peterson (guard, Barnwell, AB) and Mike Pierzchala (forward, Lethbridge, AB)  while recognizing TRU's four fifth years—Joe Davis, Micheal Rouault, Kyrin Cybenko and Anton Bilous.


HISTORY

Lethbridge has a 4-1 advantage in all time meetings between the two schools.  They are unbeaten in both games the teams have played in Southern Alberta. 

The last time they met in Lethbridge was November 23, 2013.  Lethbridge won that night  90-84.   Josh Wolfram (Kamloops, BC) had 21 points for the Pack. Tallon Milne (Smithers, BC) had contributed 15 while Reese Pribilsky (Victoria, BC) added 13.

 The first time they took on each other was November 12, 2011. It was also the first ever meeting between the two teams since TRU entered Canada West.  The Pronghorns won that night 106-93.  Chas Kok (Lynden, Wash) had a remarkable 45 points for Thompson Rivers.
 
The last time the teams met was at the Tournament Capital Centre on November 18, 2017.  The Horns beat the Pack 82-74.   The Pack outscored Lethbridge 39-37 in the second half.  Tyus Devries (3^rd year, Chilliwack, BC) came off the bench to lead TRU with 20 points.  Joe Davis ( 5^th year, forward,Kamloops, BC) had 15 while Micheal Rouault (5^th year, guard, Vernon, BC) had 12. Saren Westrop had 24 for Lethbridge who got 18 points from Kyle Peterson (5^th year, guard, Barnwell, AB).

The night previous (Nov 17), Lethbridge won by its biggest ever margin over TRU when the score clock read 104-90. The Pronghorns scored 59 points in the second half compared to the Pack's 54.  Zac Overwater had 30 points for Lethbridge that night.  Derek Rhodes had 18 points while Anton BIlous (5^th year, guard, Cerkassy, Ukraine) had 16 points off the bench.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Thompson Rivers:

Joe Davis :  Is the WolfPack's all-time leading scorer (1116 points) , field goals (451) and in games started (76). He is second all time in minutes played (2364). Leads the team in scoring  (16.6) starting in all 17 league games. He is tied for second in minutes played (30), second in rebounds (6.5) and blocks (0.5). He
 Micheal Rouault : leads TRU in rebounds with 9.2 boards per game in 30 minutes of court time. He is third in team scoring averaging 14 per game. He leads the team in blocks (0.7) and steals (0.6)  He is the all time WolfPack leader in minutes played (2515), second all time in steals (106), rebounds (690) and free throws (195).
Anton Bilous : leads the team in minutes (30.5) and points (16.9) this year..
Rojhae Colbert (4^th year, forward, Phoenix, AZ) is third in rebounding (4.8),second in steals (0.9) and tied for second in blocks (0.5).


Lethbridge:

Chad Oviatt (3^rd year, forward, Edmonton, AB) :leads Lethbridge in scoring (15.6 points per game), has started all 18 regular season tilts, tied for the lead in steals (1.8) and leads the team in blocks (1.1). He had a team leading 22 points last Friday in an 82-76 win at MacEwan and was the top gunner Saturday in an 87-56 win as he potted 19 points.
Colton Gibb (4^th year, guard, Lethbridge, AB): leads the team in minutes played (31.3) and rebounds (6.4) starting all 18 contests.  He is second in team scoring (13.7) and steals (1.7). Is fifth all time in Lethbridge history in games started (68) and sixth in minutes played (2090)
Scott Mazutinec (2^nd year, forward,Lethbridge, AB): second in minutes (27.4) and third in team scoring (12.1)
Kyle Peterson:  he has started all 18 of the regular season games and is fourth in team scoring (11.6 points per game). He is also tied for first place in steals (1.8) and is fourth in minutes played (25.3).  He is third in Lethbridge history in assists (319) and ninth in games started (57).
Jeff Rodehutskors (2^nd year, centre, Dalemead, AB): started all 18 league games, second in rebounds (5.8) averaging 11.4 points per game (5^th on team).  He is third all time in Lethbridge history in field goal percent (58.6)
 
COMMENTS OF WOLFPACK COACH SCOTT CLARK (10^TH SEASON):

https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1225237230446268416  
 
COMMENTS OF WOLFPACK FORWARD KYRIN CYBENKO (5^TH YEAR, SASKATOON, SK):

https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1225237193293103104  


 
The WolfPack and Pronghorns have both qualified for the Canada West post season. Both will play their 'one game play in' series on the road next week.
All of the above games will be webcast on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV presented by Co-op by accessing: https://cw.yaretv.com/.