Quebec City, Que. – The University of Victoria men's basketball team won its consolation final matchup against Brock University at the U SPORTS Final 8, 71-61, March 9, at the PEPS-Amphithéâtre Desjardins.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After winning the tip, an Elias Ralph jumper opened the game scoring, giving the Vikes a 2-0 lead with 9:53 to go in the first quarter.
• Four points from Brock pulled the Badgers within one, 7-6, but was met with a three from Griffin Arnatt to make it 10-6 for the Vikes with 4:41 to go in the opening frame.
• Nine-straight Vikes points coming by way of two Diego Maffia three-pointers and a free throw and an Ethan Boag jumper resulted in Brock calling timeout with Victoria ahead 19-8 with 2:42 to go in the first.
• Though a Boag floater and long two by Izzy Helman gave the Vikes a 23-8 lead with just over two minutes to play, the Badgers scored the final six points of the first to narrow Victoria's lead to 23-14 at the end of the first quarter of play.
• Five points from Brock opened the second quarter to pull the Badgers within four, 23-19, before a Ralph free throw, Maffia three and Aaron Tesfagiorgis three-pointer put an end to their run, giving the Vikes a 30-19 advantage with 6:36 to play in the second quarter.
• Growing the lead to 16 points on a Renoldo Robinson three, 35-19, Brock's free throws in their next possession were met by two by Shadynn Smid to keep the 16-point cushion, 37-21, with just under five minutes to go in the frame.
• The Vikes held a 43-31 lead at the end of the second quarter.
• While Brock managed to narrow UVic's lead to single-digits, 48-39, at the 5:17 mark of the third quarter, three's from Maffia and Arnatt along with a pair of Robinson free throws and a jumper put the Vikes' lead back to 17, 58-41, with 1:13 to play in the third.
• Though a Ralph three gave the Vikes a 61-41 lead with 23 seconds to play, a Brock put-back at the buzzer made the score 61-43 in favour of the Vikes at the end of the third.
• Holding off Brock in the fourth quarter, the Vikes came away with the 71-61 win. 

WORTH NOTING

• Maffia recorded a game-high 25 points in the win, making eight three-pointers and adding four assists and one rebound to earn U SPORTS Player of the Game honours.
• Robinson added a well-rounded 11-point, five-rebound and two-assist performance for the Vikes.
• Smid led the Vikes with a team-high 10 rebounds, also tallying four points in the win.
• The Vikes move to 21-4 on the year with the win. 

UP NEXT
The Vikes will face the Université du Québec à Montréal in the fifth place game tomorrow, March 10, at 12 p.m. ET.