VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes jumped out to an early lead and managed to hold off the hard charging UBC Thunderbirds in the late stages to secure a 90-84 victory, snapping the visitors 13-game winning streak at CARSA Performance Gym on Friday night.
 
The Vikes would be the first on the board, scoring via Matthew Ellis jumper. However, James Woods responded for UBC, making the score 2-2 after the first minute of play.
 
From there, it was UVic in control for the remainder of the first quarter. A Scott Kellum three gave the Vikes a ten-point, 12-2 lead, forcing a Thunderbirds timeout with just over five minutes to play.
 
Victoria would see its lead grow to 20 over the final five minutes, taking a 30-10 lead on a three from Ethan Boag with 30 seconds to go.
 
Triston Matthews would knock down a pair of free throws for the Thunderbirds in the final seconds, but the Vikes would take a 30-12 lead into the second quarter.
 
The Thunderbirds controlled the second quarter, outscoring the Vikes 19-10 over 10 minutes of play. Scoring the first points of the quarter, Sukhman Sandhu knocked down back-to-back jumpers, bringing the 'Birds within 14, 30-16.


 
Down the stretch, a three from James Woods and later free throws would pull UBC within 10, 37-27, with two minutes to play. Grant Audu would bring the Vikes' lead to single digits, 40-31, on a layup in the final 10 seconds to send the game to halftime. (14-3 run to end the half)
 
UVic would try to pull away early in the third quarter, taking a 46-33 lead by way of a Matthew Ellis put-back and three from Kellum with just under eight and a half minutes to play.
 
Undeterred, the Thunderbirds went on an 11-2 run to pull within four, 48-44, with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
 
The Vikes would end the third quarter still in the lead, 63-55, with the Thunderbirds once again outscoring them, 24-23, to keep UVic's lead in single-digits.
 
UBC opened the final frame on a 7-2 run, pulling within three, 65-62, on an Audu three-pointer. The Vikes would respond with a 7-2 run of their own, with Kellum's jumper restoring UVic's lead to eight, 72-64.
 
The Vikes would re-take a double-digit lead, 81-70, with just under two minutes to play. A short time later, a three from Woods would cut the Vikes' lead to three, 83-80, with under a minute to play.
 
UVic free throws in the final seconds would seal the win, as UVic would come away with a 90-82 win at home over the Thunderbirds.
 
Kellum finished with a game-high 26 points, and added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the win. Woods led the Thunderbirds with 24 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, as well as going 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
The two sides will meet again tomorrow, Feb. 5, at CARSA Performance Gym.