VICTORIA - With 25 seconds left, #Ryan MacKinnon# drained the shot of his career, propelling the University of Victoria Vikes into a hosting position when next weekend's Canada West playoffs begin.

Rolling to his comfort zone at the top of the key, the fifth-year guard curled off a screen to take a pass from forward #Terrell Evans# and released a shot without hesitation, draining the three and game-winning basket for UVic. In the process, the No. 6 nationally ranked Vikes defeated the No. 5 nationally ranked UBC Thunderbirds 90-83 in front of a sold-out crowd of over 1,700 at Ken & Kathy Shields Court at McKinnon Gymnasium.

BOX SCORE

With the win, UVic snaps an 11-game losing streak to UBC and clinches the Pacific Division title. They will now prepare to host the red-hot Calgary Dinos in the best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series beginning Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at McKinnon Gymnasium. Game 2 goes Saturday Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Sunday Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the Canada West quarter-final series will be on sale on Tuesday Feb. 21. Prices are as follows:
ADULTS - $10
SENIORS/STUDENTS/ALUMNI - $8
YOUTH (7-14) - $5
UVIC STUDENTS / REC MEMBERS - $5
NOTE: Children 6 and under are free

To order online, visit http://tickets.uvic.ca or on the phone 250-721-8480. Groups of 10 or more can receive discounted tickets by contacting 250-721-6626.

#Michael Acheampong# of Toronto was named the Applebee's Player of the Game with a game-high 28 points along with four assists and a steal. MacKinnon of Comox, B.C., added 23 points, five assists, four steals and four rebounds on graduating players night. Fellow senior #Zac Andrus# of Vashon Island, Wa., was also terrific with 16 points, including a pair of clutch free-throws to ice the game with 14 seconds left. Evans of Las Vegas added 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, with two important rebounds in the final minute.

Tommy Nixon of Vancouver led UBC with 21 points and eight rebounds. Three other fifth-year senior T-Birds players were also in double-digit scoring. Senior guard Nathan Yu of Prince George, B.C., of UBC was held in check with just 17 points, Doug Plumb of Pitt Meadows, B.C., also had 17 points, with Kamar Burke of Mississauga, Ont., adding 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Thunderbirds led early, going on a 9-0 run to lead 12-8 midway through the first quarter. They led 22-18 after the opening quarter, and they continued to lead 41-40 at the half.

In the third quarter, MacKinnon took over. He scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half, including five three-pointers. Acheampong also drained two of his five three-pointers in the game to shift the momentum back in UVic's favour.

The Vikes saved their best quarter for last outscoring UBC 26-19 in the final quarter.

The Vikes hit 13 three-pointers in the win and shot 53 per cent from the field. UBC was also red hot, shooting 57 per cent but UVic made them pay for their 14 turnovers, scoring 22 points off the Thunderbirds' mistakes.

Late in the game, several unforced turnovers for UBC sailed out of bounds - it proved to provide the Vikes with the possession they needed to come from behind in a game that featured nine lead changes and 10 times was tied.

UBC led by as many as 11 points early in the second quarter.