Two rivals will duel for home-court advantage for next weekend's Canada West quarter-final series, as the No. 6 nationally ranked University of Victoria Vikes and No. 5 nationally ranked UBC Thunderbirds square off on Friday Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. at Ken & Kathy Shields Court at McKinnon Gymnasium.

LIVE VIDEO AND STATS / MEDIA NOTES

The Vikes and Thunderbirds both have playoff spots locked up. At stake tonight is the Pacific Division title and the right to host the surging Calgary Dinos (10-10, 4th Prairie Division, winners of past six games) in the best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series next weekend while the loser will travel to Edmonton to face the No. 9 nationally ranked Alberta Golden Bears, Feb. 24-26.

Not only is the game important for the playoff positioning, it is also a crucial game for off-floor efforts in raising awareness and funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Teaming up with the local Victoria branch and media partners Kool FM and CTV Vancouver Island, proceeds from the game will be donated to the CBCF as part of the national Shoot for the Cure initiative. (READ MORE)

Three of UVic's five starters will play in what could be their final game at McKinnon Gymnasium. #Zac Andrus# of Vashon Island, Wa., #Ryan MacKinnon# of Comox, B.C., and #Michael Berg# of Burnaby, B.C., will all graduate after this season.

UVic was flat in last Friday night's 68-52 loss to UBC in Vancouver, shooting just 26 per cent from the field. UBC was red-hot, going 45.6 per cent from the field, including an impressive 7-for-10 outing for small forward Kamar Burke who exploited a mismatch to finish with 17 points and 17 rebounds along with three steals. Nathan Yu, a fifth-year senior for UBC, was lethal, finishing with a game-high 22 points - 19 coming in the second half - in the win.

On Friday, the Vikes will need to do a better job of shutting down Yu and limiting the looks Burke gets.

The Vikes are led by MacKinnon who is currently third in the Canada West in scoring average, putting up 19.7 points per game and a conference high 45.5 per cent three-point shooting percentage, draining 17 treys thus far this season. He is one shy of 200 career Canada West three-pointers, entering the game with 199.

UBC is led by Yu who is sixth in conference scoring averaging 19.1 points per game. Centre Balraj Bains, while held in check last Friday, leads the Canada West with 29 blocked shots, while Burke is second in the conference with 10.8 rebounds per game.

SENIORS NIGHT
The Vikes will honour three seniors between the women's and men's games on Friday night: Andrus, Berg and MacKinnon.

#Zac Andrus# (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12)
A three-year Vikes player from Vashon Island in Washington State, Andrus has been a productive point guard for the Vikes, quarterbacking the Vikes offence in his final season. A reliable free-throw shooter and great ball distributor, Andrus currently leads the Canada West with a 89.7 free-throw percentage this season and a team-high 61 assists, boasting a league-best assist to turnover ratio. Throughout his career, this Business major has 489 points in conference play along with 174 rebounds, 137 assists and 82 steals.
STATS: Entered season with 293 points, 102 rebounds, 77 assists, 59 steals in all games / 290 points, 99 rebounds, 76 assists and 59 steals in conference games… Entered season with 69 free throws on 91 attempts, and 23 three pointers in conference play… Entering tonight's game has 489 points, 174 rebounds, 137 assists and 82 steals in conference games… He is shooting 52-for-58 this season from the line good for a career conference record of 121-for-149, 81.2%.

#Michael Berg# (2006-07, 2007-08, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12)
Multi-sport Vikes student-athlete Mike Berg, who also played rugby at UVic, is in his fifth and final season with the Vikes men's basketball program. Entering tonight's game with 549 career conference points and 342 rebounds. The Burnaby, B.C., native who attended Shawnigan Lake School before UVic, currently leads the Vikes in rebounding, pulling down 5.3 boards per game for 90 total this season.
STATS: Entered season with 493 points, 291 rebounds, 44 assists, 16 steals in all games / 408 points, 252 rebounds, 37 assists, 14 steals in conference games… Entering tonight's game has 549 points, 342 rebounds in conference games…

#Ryan MacKinnon# (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12)
MacKinnon leads the Vikes in scoring, three-point percentage, three-pointers made, free-throws made, steals and minutes played. Closing in on 200 career three-pointers, MacKinnon currently has 1,343 career points in conference play along with 374 rebounds, 221 assists and 166 steals entering his final regular season home game through five seasons. A 2010-11 Canada West second-team all-star, MacKinnon is currently third in the conference in scoring averaging 19.7 points per game. The Education student and product of Highland Secondary has led the Vikes in scoring in 13 of 17 games this season.
STATS: Entered season with 1124 points, 350 rebounds, 194 assists, 152 steals in all games / 1008 points, 304 rebounds, 171 assists, 130 steals in conference games… Entered season with 167 threes in all games, 149 threes in conference games… Entering tonight's game has 1343 points, 374 rebounds, 221 assists and 166 steals in conference play along with 199 three-pointers

PLAYOFF PICTURE
If UVic wins Friday night, they will host Calgary in the best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series, the games will be Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. and, if necessary, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets would go on sale on Monday - flyers will be handed out if UVic wins for more information and will be posted at http://www.govikesgo.com.  

If UVic loses Friday night, they will travel to Alberta to face the Golden Bears with the series being played Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. (6 p.m PST), Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. PST), and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. (1 p.m. PST). All basketball games will have live video and stats via http://canadawest.tv.

Winners of the Canada West quarter-final series advance to the Canada West Final 4, hosted by the highest remaining seed. The Canada West champion and runner-up will automatically qualify for the CIS Final 8 in Halifax March 9-11, with the third-place team also in the hunt for a wildcard berth.