BRANDON, MAN. – It was not the result the University of Victoria Vikes men's basketball team was looking for in their final regular season away game but it was credit to a relentless Kenonte Ramsey and his Brandon Bobcats squad who upset the No. 7 Vikes with a 77-76 win. The Vikes fall to 13-5, tied with Saskatchewan at the top of the Canada West standings, while Brandon celebrate their final home game with a win and a 2-18 record.
 
Third year Mack Roth led in scoring for Victoria, logging 23 points and eight rebounds. Fourth-year point guard Marcus Tibbs had 17 points and 11 assists, while senior Chris McLaughlin was held to 14 points and seven assists. The Vikes shot 48 per cent from the field and 50 per cent from beyond the arc (11-of-22).
 
Brandon gained 18 points off Vikes turnovers, had 12 second chance points and had a huge game from guard Ramsey, who totaled 31 points on the night. Ramsey also logged five rebounds and five assists. Earl Thompson Jr. had a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Ali-Mounir Benabdelhak had 14 points and eight rebounds.
 
Both teams exchanged blows early, ending the first quarter tied at 15-15. The Bobcats grabbed the lead going into the half 36-33.
 
The Vikes came back in the third to grab a three-point lead at 62-59, but the Bobcats weren't done. Brandon was up by one point with under a minute left to play when fifth-year Ramsey made a huge defensive stop, stealing the ball before hitting the game-winning layup. Rasmey drew a foul on the play and converted the and-one free throw, extending the Bobcat lead to 75-71 with just seconds left to play.
 
Victoria's Tibbs answered back with a layup of his own, but the Bobcats Mikee Dosado put a bucket away to clinch the win for Brandon, despite a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Victoria's leading scorer Roth.
 
Up next the Vikes will host the Trinity Western Spartans next weekend, Feb. 13-14, at McKinnon Gymnasium. These will be the last regular season games for the Vikes basketball teams and both the men's and women's programs will be calling the new Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA) their home next year. Before the teams get excited about the new facility and performance gym, Vike Athletics and Recreation will be hosting a special celebration for the "McKinnon Era" on Feb. 14 during the #IheartMcK night. For more information visit govikesgo.com. Games will be broadcast as usual at uvic.canadawest.tv.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
BRAN: 15-21-23-18 : 77
UVIC:  15-18-29-14 : 76
 
SCORING LEADERS
BRAN: Kenonte Ramsey (31), Earl Thompson Jr. (18), A.M. Benabdelhak (14)
UVIC: Mack Roth (23), Marcus Tibbs (17), Chris McLaughlin (14)