VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes came out on top, 89-80, over the veteran-heavy UNBC Timberwolves on Feb. 1 at McKinnon Gym. The Vikes improve their record to 12-5 and are one step closer to hosting the first round of Canada West playoffs, while UNBC drop to 11-6.
 
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Sharp shooting from the duo of Terrell Evans (Las Vegas, NV) and Michael Acheampong (Toronto, Ont.) helped the Vikes turn an unfavourable start around. Acheampong finished the night with 24 points, most of which came in the second quarter, while Evans ended the night with a double-double of 29 points and 11 rebounds.
 
For the Timberwolves, fifth-year Sam Raphael led the pack with 15 points, while Victoria product and Mount Doug grad Francis Rowe tallied 13. Charles Barton added 12 points and four rebounds.

"We were caught on our heels a little bit in the opening quarter," said Craig Behan, Vikes assistant coach. "They were a feisty group with some local kids and were ready to go but Terrell and Michael hits shots, guarded well and had good energy. They are our best players and they did a good job of doing their job."
 
The Timberwolves stunned the home crowd as some early scoring from Joel Rybachuk and Barton put the visitors up by as much as seven in the opening quarter. The Vikes struggled, shooting 28 percent from the field and going 0-8 in outside attempts. Barton added to the bleeding after coverting on an impressive alley-oop that sent the Timberwolves up 18-13 entering the second.
 
In the second quarter, veteran Vike Acheampong hit three long-range shots and had a 17-point second quarter, as the Vikes clawed their way back to out shoot the Timberwolves 34-19 after entering the quarter down by five. Evans was also a key contributer adding 11 points in the second despite some quality accuracy from UNBC's Raphael. The Vikes grabbed the 47-37 lead entering half time.
 
In the third, the Vikes extended their lead, out shooting UNBC 24-13. Evans neared another double-digit quarter with nine points, while Pierce Anderson (Calgary, AB) did well in the paint to rally the crowds with an eight-point quarter. For the Timberwolves, Rowe had a few key retaliating buckets but it was not enough as the Vikes led 71-50 entering the fourth quarter.
 
UNBC did well to cut the lead in the fourth but the Vikes held on for a final score of 89-80 to improve in the Canada West to 12-5, still one spot back of Pacific Division leaders, the UBC Thunderbirds (15-2). The Timberwolves drop to 5-12 but will have another go at the Vikes tomorrow, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. at McKinnon Gym. The game will be broadcast live at http://uvic.canadawest.tv
 
SCORING BY QUARTER:
UVIC: 13-34-24-18 : 89
UNBC: 18-19-13-30 : 80
 
SCORING LEADERS:
UVIC: Terrell Evans (29), Michael Acheampong (24)
UNBC: Sam Raphael (15), Francis Rowe (13)