VICTORIA - The Eastern Washington Eagles (NCAA Div. 1) led by as much as 20 points, answering several University of Victoria Vikes' scoring spurts with impressive runs of their own to hold on for a 77-58 win at Ken & Kathy Shields Court at McKinnon Gymnasium.
The exhibition tilt gave both teams a chance to evaluate new personnel and see returning players in their new roles. The Vikes, who open Canada West play Nov. 2-3 against the UBC-Okanagan Heat, lost four key players from the 2011-12 roster, but 2012-13 seniors Michael Acheampong (Toronto, Ont.) of Toronto and Terrell Evans (Las Vegas, NV) of Las Vegas showed their experience leading the Vikes with 16 and 14 points respectively.
The Eagles' bench outscored UVic 40-17. Senior starting forward Collin Chiverton of San Jose, California, flew high for the Eagles scoring 14 points and pulling down seven boards while freshman guard Danny Powell of Phoenix came off the bench to add 16 points and 10 rebounds in a solid effort.
Eastern Washington hit 10 three-pointers in the win, shooting 46.3 per cent from the field for the night and out-rebounding Victoria 38-29, including a 14-7 edge in the final quarter.
In a sloppy opening half, both teams showed pre-season rust, as the visiting Eagles jumped out to two sizable leads, forcing the Vikes to play catchup most of the night. UVic led just once - for a three-minute span - in the opening half and trailed by 14 points entering the halftime break.
Eastern Washington used speed and good transition play to open up a 12-4 lead. Evans spurred the Vikes back, converting two second-effort buckets to pull UVic within three points. The Vikes tied the play on a Vijay Dhillon (Richmond, B.C.) jumper and Evans gave UVic its first lead of the game with just over a minute left in the opening quarter. UVic led 15-13 after the first 10 minutes.
In the second, the Eagles spread the lead, closing out the half on a 7-0 run, carrying a 14-point cushion into the break, up 38-24. Eastern Washington outscored UVic 25-9 in the second quarter, with Chiverton netting a team high 11 points in the opening half, shooting four for six from the field.
Chiverton spread the Eagles' run to 10-0 hitting a trey on the opening possession of the third quarter, but UVic clawed back again to pull within seven points midway through the quarter thanks to hot shooting from Acheampong. Then, Evans cut lead to five on patented teardrop shot, but it was as close as UVic would get for the period. They trailed 54-47 after three quarters.
In the fourth, the Eagles outscored the Vikes 23-11 to leave an exclamation mark on their trip north, opening up their biggest lead of the game in the process.
The game gave UVic head coach Craig Beaucamp a look at three newcomers who saw considerable playing time. Guard Kyle Peterson of Edmonton, guard and Camosun Chargers B.C. college transfer Brandon Dunlop of Victoria, and guard Brin Taylor of Edmonton all saw the court. UVic does not have the services of guard Reese Pribilsky this season, and Ryan MacKinnon and Zac Andrus both graduated last spring, along with forward Michael Berg. Forward Dominic Ohl (Victoria, B.C.) of Victoria, who redshirted with the Vikes in 2011-12, also saw late-game minutes.
For the Eagles, German freshman forwards Thomas Reuter of Breckerfield, Germany, and seven-foot-one forward Frederik Jorg of Korschenbroich, Germany, started with fellow rookie Jordan Hickert of Bunbury, Australia, also seeing action. But the big three were ineffective, combining for just eight points but and seven rebounds, most coming from Reuter.
Next up, the Vikes host their annual alumni game as part of 50th Anniversary celebrations on campus on Friday Sept. 28 (women 6 p.m., men 8 p.m.). UVic will also host the Bishop's Gaiters (Oct. 4, 6 p.m.), Seattle Mountaineers (Oct. 12, 8 p.m.) and Lakehead Thunderwolves (Oct. 24, 7 p.m.) along with three games against CIS schools at the Guy Vetrie Memorial Tournament (Oct. 19-21, featuring Carleton, Albert and Lethbridge) to prepare for Canada West play.
Eastern Washington begins conference play in November.
UVic lost to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the 2012 Canada West semifinal after a thrilling three-game series win over the Calgary Dinos in the conference quarter-finals.
SCORING BY QUARTER
EWSH 13-25-16-23--77
UVIC 15-9-23-11--58
