Kelowna, B.C. – The University of Victoria men's basketball team opened its road series against the University of British Columbia Okanagan with a 95-71 victory over the heat, Feb. 14.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Vikes hold lead at half

• Back and forth scoring marked the first two minutes of the game, resulting in a 7-4 UBCO lead.
• Sparked by a pair of free throws from Ryan Gallagher, the Vikes followed with a 12-0 run from two Aaron Tesfagiorgis three-pointers, a Geoffrey James jumper and layup from Sam Maillet for the 16-7 lead at the 5:26 mark of the first quarter.
• Renoldo Robinson knocked down a jumper to put Victoria ahead by double digits, 20-9, with just under four minutes to play in the first.
• The Heat scored the final first quarter basket at the buzzer to bring the Vikes' lead to 28-20 at the end of the first.
• UBCO opened the second with five unanswered points, pulling within three, 28-25, until a three-pointer from James put points on the Vikes' side of the scoreboard, 31-25, with 6:40 to go in the second.
• Griffin Arnatt brought the Vikes' lead back to nine via three-pointer with 1:38 still on the clock, leading to a 46-37 Vikes advantage that would remain on the board through the halftime break.

Vikes extend lead in third, runaway with win in fourth

• Trading baskets out of the break, two-straight Vikes scores from a Ryan Gallagher jumper and Maillet layup put the Vikes ahead 52-42 with 7:56 to go in the third.
• The Vikes continued to hold their lead over the Heat, ending the third quarter with a Dylan Gage three in the final seconds to take a 71-59 lead into the fourth.
• Holding UBCO scoreless for a three and a half minute stretch in the fourth, the Vikes saw a Maillet dunk cap an 8-0 run to increase Victoria's lead to 81-63 with five and a half minutes remaining in the game.
• After a Heat free throw, back-to-back Tesfagiorgis three's put the Vikes ahead by a score of 87-64 with 4:36 to go.
• The Vikes' final offensive possession of the night saw Sergio Pereira knock down his first career three-pointer in a Vikes uniform to seal the 95-71 win for Victoria.

WORTH NOTING

• Five Vikes finished with double-digit scoring figures, led by Griffin Arnatt with 16 points in the win. Ryan Gallagher added 14 points, while Aaron Tesfagiorgis finished with 12.
• Dylan Gage and Sergio Pereira each recorded season-high point totals in the win with 13 and 11, respectively.
• Pereira notched his first double-double performance of the season, tying his career-high with 14 rebounds.
• The Vikes improve to 19-0 on the year with the win, while UBCO falls to 4-15.

UP NEXT
The Vikes close the Canada West regular against the Heat tomorrow, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. Catch the game on Canada West TV presented by BioSteel.