Waldron and Semeniuk lead Bears in gritty win over Pronghorns

For a while on Friday night, it felt like the University of Alberta Golden Bears were stuck in a hard-fought stalemate against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.

The first half against Lethbridge was tight, physical, and constantly interrupted. Fouls piled up early, which frequently stopped play. Every run was answered almost immediately. When the teams reached halftime tied at 45, it didn’t feel like either side had much control.

After half, that feeling changed fast.

The Bears opened the second half with urgency, firing off 12 unanswered points while fans were still returning to their seats. Nate Waldron attacked the rim and made simple, smart reads that kept the offense moving. Waldron finished with a career high 16 points in only 20 minutes, scoring efficiently. The whole team got a lift at halftime that shifted momentum almost immediately.

By the end of the third quarter, the Bears had built a 16-point cushion.

Nash Semeniuk was central to that stretch. After a quieter start, he settled in and punished Lethbridge from the perimeter. His threes came at the right times, and stifled any Pronghorn momentum before it started. Semeniuk finished with a game high 19 points, knocking down four threes and closing the door whenever Lethbridge showed signs of life.

What stood out most was how Alberta wore the game down. The Bears finished with 48 bench points, moving the ball between everyone’s hands. The depth disparity between these two teams was evident. While Lethbridge fought, the energy gap widened, especially late in the third and early in the fourth.

Lethbridge had strong contributions from Kymani Pollard and Jaxen Perrett, who each scored 13, and the Pronghorns played well enough early to make things uncomfortable. But once Alberta found its rhythm, it was impossible to return. The Bears shot nearly 48 per cent from the field and over 42 per cent from three.

By the fourth quarter, Alberta was in control. The lead pushed past 20. The crowd settled. The Bears managed the final minutes without drama.

The 86-69 win matters in the standings, keeping Alberta level with Mount Royal University at 12-6 in conference play while holding the tiebreaker. If they can secure another win tonight, they stay ahead of the Cougars in the standings. A home court for the quarterfinals would be valuable for the Golden Bears, but also for the fans.

If the Bears can hold onto what they found in the second quarter and secure a home quarterfinal appearance, they will have a solid footing entering the playoffs.