LANGLEY, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes took care of their own business this weekend but needed a little help from a few other Canada West schools to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. Even though they beat the Trinity Western University Spartans 92-81, they didn't receive the help they needed and will host a men's playoff game for the first time inside the CARSA Performance Centre next weekend. 

After all the results poured in Saturday night, it was determined that the Vikes will host the Brandon University Bobcats. Date and tip time for the playoff game will be released later.

Daniel Stead had a career-high 27 points while fifth-year Jack Nadelhoffer added 21 points on Senior Athlete Appreciation Night for the Spartans, as they closed out the 2019-20 season Saturday at the Langley Events Centre.
 
Stead led the Spartans with 27 points, including hitting six of seven from 3-point range. Nadelhoffer meanwhile had a double-double in his last game for TWU, chipping in with 12 rebounds alongside his 21 points. Fellow fifth-year and Spartans guard Ethan DaSilva had five rebounds and five assists. 
 
Diego Maffia led the Vikes attack with 20 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Trent Monkman, Hayden Lejeune, and Scott Kellum each added five boards for Victoria.
 
After the Vikes opened by scoring the first three baskets of the game, TWU came back to tie it up at 8-8. The Spartans shooting however would go cold, as Victoria ended the quarter on a 16-5 run to take a 24-13 lead. Nadelhoffer led the Spartans with four points and four rebounds in the quarter, while Maffia had five first quarter points alongside three rebounds for the Vikes.
 
Maffia added back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the second quarter to give the Vikes their biggest lead at the time at 42-24. TWU would then go on an 11-7 run led by six points from Nadelhoffer as they entered the half down 49-35. Maffia went 3 for 4 (75%) from 3-point range in the quarter, while Nadelhoffer added 10 more points and three rebounds.
 
Stead then took over offensively for TWU in the third, scoring 12 of the Spartans 23 points, which included hitting all three of his 3-point attempts. Aaron Tesfagiorgis added nine third quarter points for the Vikes, as they led 72-58 heading into the final quarter.
 
The Spartans then brought the game to within reach in the fourth, after a Stead 3-pointer put TWU down just nine at 85-76. Both teams would trade points for the rest of the quarter, as the Vikes held on for the 91-82 win. 
 
TWU shot 48% (28-59) from the field, while Victoria shot 45% (34-76).