The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball team is getting an early start on the 2010-11 school year with a matchup versus an NCAA opponent at the Battle of the Border tournament in Calgary this week.

The Horns will face the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks of the NCAA's Big Sky Conference Wednesday, Aug. 11 and Sunday, Aug. 15 at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium at the University of Calgary.

Wednesday night's game tips at 7 p.m. with Sunday's affair set for 10 a.m.

The entire Pronghorns squad is not available for the two pre-season games, with newcomers Abner Kamps and Niko Kovacs unavailable due to previous commitments. However, Julian Spearchief-Morris and Zack Humphrey will both make their Pronghorn debuts, joining eight returning players.

Northern Arizona is the third Big Sky School to make the trip to Calgary for the tournament after Weber State attended in 2007 and Montana in 2008.

The Lumberjacks, based in Flagstaff, Ariz., went 14-14 overall (8-8 Big Sky) in 2009-10, falling in the opening round of the Big Sky Tournament. Led by two-time All-Big Sky guard Cameron Jones, the team returns four starters in 2010-11 under head coach Mike Adras.

The Horns are gearing up for the 2010-11 Canada West season, which begins October 22-23 when the club hosts the Trinity Western Spartans.