OTTAWA – It only lasted a couple of minutes but a scoring spree by Chris McLaughlin and Terrell Evans gave the Victoria Vikes men's basketball team the points they needed to beat a tenacious Lakehead team at Carleton's House-Laughton tournament on Oct. 19. The Vikes men extend their pre-season undefeated to streak with the 68-60 victory.

BOX SCORE  /   FULL SCHEDULE  / TOURNAMENT INFO

The Vikes were up only three, 28-25, when the second half started. But first McLaughlin hit a three then Evans scored a two then McLaughlin hit a three and then – after Henry Tan of Lakehead made a three – Evans hit two more three's. That 14-3 run gave the Vikes a 14-point lead and though Lakehead came within nine, the Vikes stayed ahead the rest of the way.

But even then the Vikes needed a last minute basket by McLaughlin and three foul shots on four tries by Marcus Tibbs to finally win 68-60.

Barring an upset with a Bishop's win over Carleton the Vikes 2-0 will face Carleton which should also be 2-0 in the tournament final.

McLaughlin had started his scoring with 12 points in the first half and he added just eight more in the third quarter. But Evans had just nine at half time; he added 13 more in the third quarter for a team-high 22. By three-quarter time, McLaughlin and Evans had 42 of the Vikes' 54 points.

Despite that the Vikes could not pull away for two Lakehead players were putting on a scoring display as well. Antony McIntosh had 16 points after three quarters and Igor Lebov had 14 and between them they had three two-thirds of Lakehead's 45 points.

Both teams were shooting well. The Vikes ended the game shooting 46.4 per cent. Lakehead shot 43.9 per cent. And surprisingly Lakehead out-rebounded Victoria 39-31.

Evans ended the game with 28 points, McLaughlin with 22, 50 of the Vikes 68 points. McLaughlin also had a team-high eight rebounds. He was nine of 13 overall. Evans was 12 of 19 overall and a perfect three for three from three-point range.

Victoria Coach Craig Beaucamp got nine players into the game but because the game stayed close he gave 30+ minutes to Kyle Peterson, Evans, Reiner Theil and McLaughlin. Marcus Tibbs played 27.

The Lakehead Thunderwolves put on an impressive showing at the end of last season – defeating both Cape Breton and Ottawa at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships before their devastating 50-point loss to Carleton in the final.

But their toughest challenge was not recovering from the shock of that loss but rebuilding their team after eight players left their roster. Six of them were gone because they were returning seniors but Joe Hart left to play professionally in Spain and Ryan Thompson – the team's leading scorer last season – will be sitting out this season as he recovers from knee surgery.

That meant the team faced a massive rebuilding job and – if their first two games at the House-Laughton tournament at Carleton are any indication – they have done well. Thought they lost both they stayed in both games even against top-rated Carleton.

They have a rookie point guard, Henry Tan, who can drive the basket and shoot from outside.

They have two towering players in the five spot – Brent Wallace at seven feet and Andrew McCarthy, one inch taller at seven foot one inch.

They have some depth: interim coach Matt Erdman used 12 players in the tournament opening 79-61 loss to Carleton, giving three of men just a few minutes, but giving nine players at least 10 minutes. He did the same against Victoria.

Up next the Vikes men will face the defending CIS national champions, the Carleon Ravens, tomorrow, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. PST. The game will be streamed live at http://www.ssncanada.ca/game/5422/