Kelowna, B.C. – The University of Victoria men's basketball team defeated the University of British Columbia Okanagan in the weekend series opener, 101-81, Feb. 3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Three-pointers from Diego Maffia and Elias Ralph opened the game scoring, giving the Vikes a quick 6-0 lead in the first minute of play before the Heat used an 8-0 run to take an 8-6 lead with 7:45 to play in the opening quarter.
• Trading points to end of the first, a dunk by Ethan Boag, layup from Elias Ralph and jumper from Sergio Pereira gave Victoria a 28-24 lead at the end of the first.
• A 12-0 run by UBCO gave the home side the lead back, 40-37, with 4:22 to play in the second quarter.
• Six Vikes points by way of Renoldo Robinson three and Maffia and-one tied the game, 45-45, with 2:25 until halftime.
• Outscoring the Heat 15-3 over the final three minutes of the quarter, the Vikes took a 54-48 lead into halftime.
• Trading five-point runs back and forth for the majority of the third quarter, the Vikes held a 77-71 lead after 30 minutes of play.
• A Maffia jumper gave the Vikes their first double-digit lead of the night, 82-71 with 9:08 to play in the final frame.
• Holding the Heat to 10 points in the fourth, the Vikes pulled away with the 101-81 win. 

WORTH NOTING

• Robinson led the Vikes with 24 points, adding five rebounds, three assists, and a team-high five steals in the win.
• Maffia recorded 21 points along with three rebounds, one steal, and a team-leading four assists in 36 minutes of play.
• Pereira recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, both of which were season-highs for the forward.
• Trent Monkman notched 16 points while Ralph added 14 to round out the five double-digit point scorers for Victoria.
• The Vikes move to 15-2 with the win, while the Heat sit at 5-14 with the loss. 

UP NEXT
The Vikes and Heat close out the weekend series tomorrow, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m.