VICTORIA – Recording the weekend series sweep, the University of Victoria men's basketball team defeated the University of Northern British Columbia, 83-49 and 92-72 in back-to-back contests, Dec. 3-4.

THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH CRAIG BEAUCAMP
"Like all second nights, it's always a different game and different story. The other team usually punches back after a loss the first night. We talked about it a lot, it seems like the same things happened. They only scored 49 points Friday night and they scored 48 in the first half tonight. We got some stops and we held them to a little over 20 points in the second half, that was crucial.

"It's always nice to get a win anytime, and obviously heading in to a break ending on a high note is always a positive. We had a lot of guys step up this weekend. Sergio Pereira and Justin McChesney had their best weekends as Vikes, and that was huge for us."

Game one: Victoria 83, UNBC 49
December 3, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter – UVic 26, UNBC 15

• Setting the tone for most of the night, Aaron Tesfagiorgis picked the ball away from the Timberwolves, finding Matthew Ellis on the fastbreak for the 2-0 Vikes lead in the opening minute of play.
• Knocking down a pair three-pointers in the opening frame, Diego Maffia's second of the quarter gave UVic the 16-8 lead with four minutes to play.
• Taking its first 10-point lead of the night, Trent Monkman completed the three-point play on the fast break layup and free throw for the 21-11 Vikes advantage. Victoria would keep its double-digit advantage at the end of the first quarter, leading 26-15.

2^nd Quarter – UVic 51, UNBC 28

• Keeping its distance from the Timberwolves, the Vikes began to separate at the halfway point of the quarter. Embarking on a 13-0 run, Ellis claimed six points, Ethan Boag scored a bucket, and Elias Ralph added five points, highlighted by a slam dunk for the 42-19 Victoria lead with four minutes to play.
• Leading 51-28 at the half, the Vikes were shooting 54.1% from the field and 46.7% from three.

3rd Quarter – UVic 65, UNBC 43

• UNBC began to make up some ground in the final three minutes of the third quarter, going a 10-0 run to make it 60-43 in favour of the Vikes.
• However, a bucket from Ralph and three from Tesfagiorgis would put and end to the run and put UVic back up, 65-43, at the end of the third quarter.

4th Quarter – UVic 83, UNBC 49

• Riding a 12-0 run to a 77-43 lead to open the final frame, the Vikes' run would be stopped with a pair of free throws by the Timberwolves with just over five minutes to play.
• Keeping their foot on the gas, the Vikes outscored the Timberwolves 18-6 in the final 10 minutes of play en route to the 83-49 win.

WORTH NOTING

• Leading the scoring effort for the Vikes was Maffia with 15 points, followed by Ralph with 14. Ellis added 10 of his own for three double-digit scoring performances in the win.
• The Vikes' 10 made three-pointers match the most in a single game this season, previously accomplished Nov. 13 at Trinity Western. Tesfagiorgis and Maffia each notched three, while Ralph knocked down two, and Scott Kellum and Boag each tallied one.
• Sergio Pereira led all players in the game with 14 boards, the second-most recorded by a Vike in a game this season (Dominick Oliveri – 15).

 
Game two: Victoria 92, UNBC 72
December 4, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter – UVic 27, UNBC 21

• Starting strong out of the gate, the Vikes put together a 16-2 run over first four and a half minutes of play.
• The Timberwolves would outscore the Vikes, 15-6, over the final five minutes to cut UVic's lead to six, 27-21, after the first 10 minutes of play.

2nd Quarter – UNBC 48, UVic 46

• Trading baskets for the majority of the opening minutes, UVic managed to grow its lead to eight points at multiple occasions throughout the first five minutes of play.
• Much like the final five minutes of the first quarter, UNBC went on a run in the final five minutes of the second. A 14-6 run by the Timberwolves would put the visitors ahead, 48-46, after 20 minutes of play.
• Despite holding a six-point lead after the first, the Vikes were outscored 27-19 in the second to find themselves behind at the half.

3rd Quarter – UVic 64, UNBC 58

• Victoria managed to re-take the lead, 51-49, on a three-pointer from Diego Maffia.
• Slowly growing back their lead, the Vikes would take a 64-58 lead into the fourth quarter after a Scott Kellum layup in the final 30 seconds of play.

4th Quarter – UVic 92, UNBC 72

• Draining a three, Justin McChesney opened the fourth quarter scoring, giving UVic the 67-58 lead.
• Giving the Vikes a double-digit lead, Maffia would sink a three to put UVic ahead, 78-67.
• A Kellum jumper would put the Vikes up by 20 and finalize the win, 92-72, to complete the weekend series sweep.

WORTH NOTING

• The Vikes saw three double-digit scoring performances, led by a game-high 25 points from Maffia. Matthew Ellis notched 18, while Kellum recorded 10 in the win.
• Aaron Tesfagiorgis posted a solid line, notching eight points, eight rebounds, team-high five assists, and one steal for UVic.
• The Vikes move to 7-1 on the season, including an unblemished 4-0 mark at home this season.

UP NEXT
The Vikes return to Canada West play in the new year, rematching with UNBC Friday, Jan. 14 in Prince George, B.C.