Abbotsford, B.C. – The University of Victoria men's basketball team overcame a first quarter deficit to defeat the University of the Fraser Valley, 100-75, Nov. 23 in the UFV Athletic Centre.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Cascades get early jump on Vikes

• The Cascades got out to an early lead, going up by six until a pair of Shadynn Smid free throws made it a three-point game, 13-10, five minutes in.
• The Vikes went scoreless for just over two minutes, giving UFV the opportunity to grow their lead to 25-10 with 2:07 to go. Aaron Tesfagiorgis ended the scoring drought for the Vikes with a three-pointer with 1:53 to go, 25-13.
• A follow-up jumper from Tesfagiorgis and a three-pointer from Ryan Gallagher brought the Vikes back within seven, 25-18, with just under one minute to play in the first quarter. The 25-18 score would remain in place at the end of the first.

Vikes fight back in second frame

• Smid pulled the Vikes within five, 31-26, with a three-pointer in the early minutes of the second quarter.
• An and-one from Renoldo Robinson brought the Vikes within three, 39-36, with 2:42 to go in the second.
• Back-to-back three's from Diego Maffia in the final 40 seconds of the quarter tied the game, 42-42, at halftime.

Vikes hold lead in third; runaway in fourth

• Though the third quarter was predominantly back-and-forth play, the Vikes grew their lead to nine on a Ryan Gallagher jumper, three free throws from Tesfagiorgis, and an Ethan Boag three, 63-54, with 3:36 to go in the quarter.
• Though UFV hit a three in the final seconds of the third quarter, the Vikes still held the 70-65 lead entering the final frame.
• The Vikes scored the first 11 points of the fourth, coming off back-to-back Robinson three's followed by jumpers from Maffia and Smid with a bonus Smid free throw for the 81-65 lead with seven minutes to play.
• UFV remained scoreless in the fourth until the 4:34 mark. Allowing just 10 points to the Cascades in the final frame, the Vikes came away with the 100-75 win.

WORTH NOTING

• Diego Maffia led the Vikes with 20 points, adding five rebounds, four steals, and four assists in the win.
• Five additional Vikes finished with double-digit scoring totals: Renoldo Robinson (17), Shadynn Smid (14), Griffin Arnatt (13), Ethan Boag (11), and Ryan Gallagher (10). Arnatt and Gallagher's point totals marked season-highs for the respective players.
• Sam Maillet led the Vikes with six assists, marking a season-high.
• The Vikes close the 2024 portion of the schedule with an unblemished 8-0 mark. The Cascades fall to 3-5. 

UP NEXT
The Vikes host Trinity Western, Jan. 10-11, 2025, in CARSA Performance Gym. Get your tickets here or tune in on Canada West TV presented by BioSteel.