Tale of the Weekend
VICTORIA – The UVic Vikes men's basketball team will get another chance to climb their way up the Canada West conference standings this weekend when they travel to Kelowna to play the UBC Okanagan Heat on January 13 and 14.
The first game of the weekend gets underway at 8 pm, with the rematch taking place at 7 pm the very next day.
Both teams will be looking to get positive results this weekend and use those to springboard themselves into a playoff spot in a close Canada West conference.
The Vikes currently sit just two points outside of the playoffs, but with ten games left in the regular season a lot of time remains for the Vikes to improve on their 3-7 record.
The Heat face more of a difficult battle to work their way into a playoff position. The team from Kelowna is currently 2-10 and occupy the last spot in Canada West.
Last Time Out
The Vikes picked up another split on the road last weekend, in all three of their road double-headers the Vikes have won the Friday night game before dropping the rematch on Saturday.
Grant Sitton, the reigning Muscle MLK™ Vikes Male Athlete of the Week was dominant in the Vikes 86-76 victory over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, scoring 30 points while shooting seven-for-eight from three-point range.
UBCO battled hard to earn a split at home against the University of Regina Cougars last weekend. After dropping a close contest 83-79, the Heat rebounded to drop the Cougars 79-70 and pick up their second win of the season.
By the Numbers
0: The Heat have yet qualify for the playoffs in their previous five seasons of U Sports play.
50: The number of points Aldrich Berrios scored last weekend for UBCO, the guard is 6th in the conference in points per game.
Coach's Take
Craig Beaucamp, Vikes head coach
On playing 9 of 12 games on the road to start the season.
"I think we have dealt with it pretty well. We've managed to pick up a split so far in every series on the road which is probably the number one goal."
"It would have been nice to get two wins a couple times but we just haven't been able to seal the deal. It's just our consistency, we've kind of struggled getting out of the gate on the second night. I don't think our first quarter has been very good on the road in the second night."
"We have to find different ways to get energy and bring that same competitiveness on the second night."
On the play of first-year guard
Scott Kellum.
"He's been very consistent, I think our most consistent offensive and defensive player overall."
Game Info
Friday, Jan. 13 – 8:00 p.m. – @ UBCO Heat, Kelowna, B.C. –
Watch live on canadawest.tv
Saturday, Jan. 14 – 7:00 p.m. – @ UBCO Heat, Kelowna, B.C. –
Watch live on canadawest.tv
UBCO Heat (2-10)
U Sports National Ranking: N/A
Canada West Standings: 17
RPI: 0.3469
Last Week: 1-1
Streak: W 1
Last Canada West Title: N/A
Last CIS Title: N/A
