The Western Washington Vikings (NCAA Div. 2) won the Battle at Bellingham, defeating the UVic Vikes 81-68 Saturday night at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

Junior guard John Allen had five steals and 17 points in what will be the Vikes final non-conference tuneup game before the Canada West regular season opens for them in Abbotsford with a pair of games against the Fraser Valley Cascades Nov. 4 and 5.

Western Washington led by 10 points, 38-28, at halftime, and they led by as much as 17 with about 15 minutes remaining.

A pair of back-to-back #Ryan MacKinnon# three-pointers brought UVic within four at 54-50 with 11:45 to play, but Western Washington went on a 13-3 run to hold the Vikes off and secure the win.

#Terrell Evans# had 13 points off the bench for UVic, while MacKinnon finished with 12 points. #Zac Andrus#, playing back in his home state of Washington, added 10 points.