Kamloops, B.C. – A tight contest between the University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University men's basketball teams resulted in the Vikes picking up an 87-84 road win over the WolfPack, Jan. 18 at the Tournament Capital Centre.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WolfPack lead after one, Vikes take lead at the half

• Back-and-forth scoring opened the game, until a run by the WolfPack gave TRU a seven-point lead, 12-5, with 6:07 to go in the opening frame.
• Continuing to trade points, Thompson Rivers' lead reached six, 19-13, sparking a Vikes run of a Sam Maillet free throw and three-pointers from Griffin Arnatt and Renoldo Robinson for the 21-20 Vikes lead with just under two minutes to go in the first.
• The lead changed three more times in the final 90 seconds of the first quarter, but the WolfPack hit a three at the buzzer to take a 27-25 lead after the first quarter of play.
• Ethan Boag scored the first five points of the second quarter, putting the Vikes back in front, 30-27, with 8:13 until halftime.
• The Vikes grew their led to four points on a pair of free throws by Sergio Pereira and an Arnatt layup, 42-38, with 1:41 on the clock. A TRU free throw would be met by a Robinson jumper to give the Vikes their largest lead of the night, 44-39, with 39 seconds to go until halftime.
• After a final basket by TRU, the Vikes took a 44-41 lead into halftime.

Vikes showcase ability to fight back in second half

• The Vikes did not relinquish their lead for the first eight minutes of the third quarter, eventually taking a 60-56 lead on a Robinson layup with two minutes to go. However, the WolfPack went on to score nine unanswered points in 90 seconds, taking a 65-60 lead with 30 seconds to go in the quarter.
• Getting a three from Arnatt in their next possession and a Robinson three-point-play at the buzzer, the Vikes scored six points in the final 30 seconds to have the 66-65 edge at the end of the third quarter.
• The fourth quarter saw TRU come out strong, growing their lead to 80-73 over UVic with 4:23 remaining in the final quarter.
• A Geoffrey James jumper followed by back-to-back Robinson three's put the Vikes back on top, 81-80, with 2:03 still on the clock.
• The WolfPack briefly took the lead on a pair of free throws, 82-81, but layups from Robinson and James in the next Vikes possessions put the visiting side up, 85-82, with 38 seconds to go.
• Thompson Rivers' score was met by a Robinson layup to keep the Vikes ahead by three, 87-84, with 11 seconds to go. Possession with the WolfPack, Boag got a hand on the ball to block their three-point attempt and run out the clock, sealing the Vikes' win, 87-84. 

WORTH NOTING

• There was a combined 20 lead changes and eight ties in the score over the game.
• Renoldo Robinson led the Vikes with a season-high 33 points, adding a team-high six steals and two rebounds in the win. His 13 made field goals tie for second-most in a single Canada West game this season.
• Ethan Boag tied his season-high with 23 points, also recording two rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal for the Vikes.
• Sam Maillet led the Vikes in rebounds and assists with seven and five, respectively. He also had two blocks.
• The Vikes move to 12-0 on the year with the win, while the WolfPack drop to 6-8. 

UP NEXT
The Vikes return to CARSA Performance Gym, hosting the University of British Columbia and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Jan. 23-25. Get your tickets here or catch the games on Canada West TV presented by BioSteel.