VICTORIA – The University of Victoria men's basketball team recorded their first win of the season inside CARSA Performance Gym with a 80-66 downing of UBCO, Nov. 5, in the home-opener, and followed with an 88-80 win over UBCO, Nov. 6.

WEEKEND THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH CRAIG BEAUCAMP 
On the competition: "It's always nice because winning is hard, so you appreciate whenever you can. We probably stole a win tonight (Saturday), we didn't come ready. It was some guys that came off the bench tonight that stepped up and were awesome for us. It really speaks to our depth, more than anything else.'

On being back at home: "The atmosphere was great, our crowds were awesome both nights. It was certainly fun to be here and to be in front of two pretty good crowds was certainly fun for the guys."

Game one: UVic 80, UBCO 66
November 5, 2021
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter – UVic 19, UBCO 14

• Scoreless for the first two minutes of the game, the Vikes were the first to breakthrough on a free throw by Dominick Oliveri.
• Trading one-point leads until it was 8-7, Victoria, the Vikes then scored the next seven to take a 15-7 lead with two and a half minutes to play in the first.
• The Heat would surge back, hitting a jump shot with 30 seconds to go diminish the Vikes' lead to two, 16-14.
• Diego Maffia would drill a three to end the quarter and put the Vikes up five, 19-14.

2nd Quarter – UVic 35, UBCO 27

• The Vikes would score the first points of the second quarter, working their way to their first double-digit lead of the game, 24-14, on a jumper from Matthew Ellis.
• UBCO would go on a run in the final five minutes of the half to pull back within five, 32-27.
• A three-point play from Maffia would push UVic's lead back out to eight, 35-27, heading in to the halftime break.

3rd Quarter – UVic 62, UBCO 47

• Back-and-forth to begin the second half, the two sides would trade points until a jumper from Ellis would start the Vikes on a 10-0 run to take a 20-point lead, 53-33, with just over four minutes to go in the quarter.
• Unable to catch the Vikes, the Heat would not get any closer than 13 points, ultimately ending with UVic in front, 62-47, heading in to the final frame.

4th Quarter – UVic 80, UBCO 66

• The Vikes held their ground for the fourth quarter, not allowing the Heat to come any closer than within 11 points during the final 10 minutes of play.
• UVic closed the game on top, 80-66.

WORTH NOTING

• Diego Maffia exploded for a 35-point game, the highest single-game scoring performance by an individual in Canada West so far this season. He added six rebounds and steals to his line.
• Oliveri captured the team's first double-double of the season, tallying 14 points, which tied for second-best on the team for the night, along with a game-high 15 rebounds.
• Ellis and Scott Kellum also picked up double-digit scoring performances with 14 and 11, respectively.

 
Game two: UVic 88, UBCO 80
November 6, 2021
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter – UBCO 29, UVic 15

• The game seemed UBCO-controlled at the start, with the Heat going on a run and taking a 14-4 lead, resulting in a Victoria timeout.
• A three-point play from Ethan Boag would end the Vikes' first quarter scoring with UBCO in front, 29-15.

2nd Quarter – UBCO 45, UVic 44

• The Vikes would go on an 8-0 run to bring the score within two, 39-37.
• Elias Ralph would bring the Vikes within one, 41-40, setting the course for a shift in lead with under two and a half minutes.
• A pair of free throws from Trent Monkman would put the Vikes ahead, 44-42 with a minute to play, but the Heat would sink a three-point attempt to take a 45-44 lead into halftime.

3rd Quarter – UBCO 60, UVic 58

• UVic would take lead back on a three-pointer from Diego Maffia, 49-47, with just over seven minutes to go in the third.
• The Vikes would slightly separate from the Heat in the third, leading by as many as eight, 57-49, before UBCO would respond with scores of their own.
• Finishing the third frame with back-and-forth buckets, UBCO would steal the ball and finish with a layup to take 60-58 at the end of the quarter.

4th Quarter – UVic 88, UBCO 80

• Like the opening to the game, UBCO would score the first points of the fourth quarter, growing their lead back to seven, 65-58.
• The Vikes would chip away, bringing the game back to a tied state at 70-70 on a Scott Kellum jumper as the clock ticked to under six minutes.
• Extend lead to five, 76-71, 3:25 to go
• Steal and breakaway layup from Maffia would put the Vikes in front, 84-76, with just over 30 seconds left in the game.
• The Heat would make a shot at the buzzer, but the Vikes were too far ahead and finished with the 88-80 win.

 WORTH NOTING

• The Vikes improve to 3-1 on the season after the two-win weekend.
• Maffio once again led the Vikes' scoring, tallying 20 points. Matthew Ellis posted 14 points, the second-most for the Vikes.
• Kellum and Boag each added double-digit scoring performances at 13 and 11, respectively. 
• On the boards, Monkman finished with a team-leading seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Vikes head to Langley, B.C. to take on Trinity Western University next weekend, Nov. 12-13.