Winnipeg, Man. – The top-seeded University of Victoria men's basketball team defeated eighth-seeded Brandon University, 98-85, in the quarterfinal round of the Canada West playoffs, Feb. 22 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Shadynn Smid put the first points of the game on the board, followed by an Elias Ralph jumper and three-pointer and a Diego Maffia layup for the 9-2 lead with 6:45 to play in the first quarter.
• A Brandon three was immediately met with one by Maffia to keep Victoria in front, 12-5, with just over six minutes to go in the first.
• 10-straight Brandon points put the Bobcats in the lead, 15-12, before a Ralph layup and free throw by Renoldo Robinson tied it back up, 15-15, with 3:15 to go.
• Brandon would score the next six points to take a 21-15 lead with just under two minutes to play, but a three by Izzy Helman and tip-in from Sergio Pereira brought Brandon's lead down to three, 23-20, at the end of the first quarter.
• Five-straight points from Maffia in the opening minute of the second quarter brought the Vikes back within one, 26-25, leading to Ralph putting the Vikes back on top with a layup, 27-26 and Brandon calling a timeout with 8:17 to go until halftime.
• Though the Vikes worked their way to a nine-point lead, 40-31, a quick Bobcats run pulled the opposition within one, 40-39, with just over three minutes still on the clock.
• A swipe-and-score by Robinson put an end to Brandon's run, resulting in a 42-39 Vikes advantage with 2:21 to go in the second.
• Back-to-back three's by Ralph coming at the 40 second mark and at the buzzer put Victoria in front by a score of 48-41 at halftime.
• Two-straight scores from Brandon brought the Bobcats back within two, 48-46, with 9:18 to go to open the third quarter.
• Giving the Vikes some momentum, a Ralph two followed by back-to-back Maffia three-pointers put Victoria ahead by 10, 56-46, with 7:17 showing on the clock and forcing Brandon to call a timeout.
• Five quick points from the Bobcats halved the Vikes' lead, but a Maffia three and Smid dunk restored the lead to 10, 61-51, at the halfway point of the frame.
• Trading baskets for the remainder of the quarter, the Vikes held a 72-64 lead after 30 minutes of action.
• Brandon put the first points of the fourth quarter on the board to make a it  a six-point game, but Ralph created some separation for Victoria with a dunk at the 8:02 mark for the 78-70 lead.
• Layups from Maffia and Griffin Arnatt put the Vikes' lead back at 10, 85-75, with 4:25 to play in the final quarter.
• Continuing to extend their lead, a Maffia three and follwing set of free throws put Victoria up by a score of 94-78 with 1:28 to go.
• Keeping things under control for the final minute and a half, the Vikes came away with the 98-85 win in the quarterfinal round.

WORTH NOTING

• Maffia led the Vikes with 34 points, making eight three-pointers to tie for second-most made three's in a Canada West men's basketball playoff game. He also had a team-high four assists in addition to seven rebounds in the win.
• Ralph was a rebound shy of a double-double, tallying 22 points and a Vikes-high nine rebounds to along with one assist.
• Robinson and Smid finished with double-digit point figures with 14 and 11, respectively.
• The Vikes have won all three of their games against Brandon this season after posting two wins against the Bobcats in the regular season, Feb. 2-3 at CARSA Performance Gym.
• Victoria moves to 18-3 on the year and 1-0 in postseason play with the win. 

UP NEXT
The No. 1 Vikes will face the winner of No. 12 UNBC versus No. 4 Manitoba Saturday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. CT in the semifinal round.