With files from University of Victoria sports information
VICTORIA - The Victoria Vikes kept it close for 22 minutes on Friday, but the No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds came on strong in the second half to earn the 103-75 victory and clinch first place in
Alex Murphy's Canada West record-setting 110th career conference game.
Murphy punctuated his big night with a game-high 26 points to help lead the 'Birds to the win. It was UBC's 17th straight victory, moving the 'Birds to 21-2 on the year and ensuring them of the top seed heading into the playoffs.
"It was a high-tempo game and that's my style of game. It benefitted me personally and the team," Murphy said. "In the third quarter, we made a few stops and then we were running the ball well. I'm proud our guys were able to turn this game around."
The Vikes led several times in a game that featured 14 lead changes and was full of fastbreaks and furious action. They battled the 'Birds almost evenly throughout the first half, benefitting from 6-of-12 shooting from three-point range before the break. The momentum shifted quickly in the third quarter though, when the UBC defence stiffened up and the visitors outscored Victoria 29-12.
"In the first half they penetrated well and when we tried to bring help, they found open guys and made some three-point shots which extended our defence," said UBC head coach
Kevin Hanson. "Holding them to 12 points in the thrid quarter was really the difference in the game. In the second half we extended our defence and got more aggressive."
Josh Whyte had 24 points for the 'Birds, and was instrumental in helping his side keep pace with the Vikes early, as they started out hot in front of a big crowd at home.
"Josh kept us in it in the first half," said Hanson. "He made some tough shots and really carried us through that tough stretch."
The Vikes briefly led by five points in the second half - 45-40 - but then Whyte and his Thunderbirds teammate
Nathan Yu took over, guiding UBC to a 29-8 run to end the third quarter. Yu had 11 points during that stretch, and finished with 16 while going 4-for-6 from three-point range.
Jeff Cullen led the Vikes with 19 points, including five three-pointers. Ryan MacKinnon added 16 points, six rebounds and six assists along with two steals in the loss.
Victoria falls to 15-8 and needs to win on Saturday night in the rematch to finish in fourth spot and have home court advantage in the first round of playoffs. The Vikes will retire the jersey of former Vikes star and national team player Gerald Kazanowski when they wrap up the regular season against UBC on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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