VICTORIA – After suffering two last-minute decision losses on the road to Winnipeg and Manitoba, the University of Victoria Vikes men's basketball team will turn around to host the Regina Cougars, Jan. 18, and the Brandon Bobcats, Jan. 19. Both games will take place on Ken and Kathy Shields Court at the McKinnon Gymnasium.
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Last weekend, Jan. 11-12, the Vikes were defeated by Winnipeg, 64-61, after the Vikes fouled a Wesmen late, outside attempt, which turned into a four-point play to seal the win. The next evening, the Vikes were given the late-game blues from Manitoba, after the Bisons won 82-79, on a three-point shot at the buzzer.
“That is the thing about the Canada West. There are no easy games,” said Vikes men's head coach
Craig Beaucamp, who is looking to turn the odds around this weekend. “There is always a fine line between wins and losses in this conference and now we are in the thick of the playoff battle. We just have to take one game at a time and focus on playing well in that game before moving on to the next.”
The Vikes boast a 7-5 overall conference record and a 5-1 record at home, while the Cougars are 5-7 and the Bobcats are 3-9.
Current Vikes leading scorer
Terrell Evans (Las Vegas, NV) has averaged 16.2 points per game in 12 games so far and is the conference leader in steals (38). Outside of Evans, the team has struggled with consistent offensive leaders, particularly after they were hit with an injury bug early in the season.
With all healthy bodies returning, it is expected that the height of forwards
Chris McLaughlin (Oakville, ON) and
Pierce Anderson (Calgary, AB), as well as the shifty play of
Michael Acheampong (Toronto, Ont.) will help the Vikes bounce back at home this weekend.
This past weekend, Acheampong lead in scoring over Manitoba, with 17 points, and was tied as the leading rebounder in both weekend games.
Also expected to make an impression on home court will be the point guard duo of
Kyle Peterson (Edmonton) and
Brandon Dunlop (Victoria, BC), who both netted 11 points in the loss to Winnipeg on Jan. 11. The pair have tag-teamed the point guard role since the start of the season, providing some extra depth for Beaucamp's bench.
On Friday, the Vikes will face the Regina Cougars (5-7) who are coming off back-to-back victories against UNBC and Mount Royal. Regina are led by second-year guard
Frank Brown, who has averaged 17.3 poitns per game and has the highest three-point shooting average on the team (0.416). In addition, fourth-year and six-foot-eight
Connor Burns and fifth-year and six-foot-seven
Paul Gareau are sure to provide some height for the Vikes to contend with.
For Brandon (3-9), second-year forward
Ali-Mounir Benabdelhak has been the leading scorer, averaging 14.3 points per game, while third-year
Kenonte Ramsey trails with an average of 12.5.
The Vikes will play the Cougars on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. and the Bobcats on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. Both games will take place at the McKinnon gymnasium and will be broadcast live at
http://UVic.canadawest.tv
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
Key addition: G Frank Brown
Key returnees: P Connor Burns, F Paul Gareau, G Brendan Hebert, G Sterling Nostedt
Key departure: F Gradyn Childerhose
Current CW Record: 5-7
CIS Ranking: N/A
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
2011-12 conference record: 7-13 (6th, Prairie)
Last CW title: 2002
Last CIS title: 1996
Key additions: Kenonte Ramsey, Jude Molin, Peterson Suffrard
Key returnees: Ilarion Bonhomme, Isaiah James, Jordan Reaves, James Elias, Ali-Mounir Benadbelhak, Emerick Ravier
Key departures: Kyle Vince, Donovan Gayle
Current CW Record: 3-9
CIS Ranking: N/A
