LANGLEY, BC -
Ryan MacKinnon and the UVic Vikes men's basketball team spoiled the Trinity Western Spartans home opener at the newly christened Langley Events Centre with a 62-59 victory.
BOXSCORE
MacKinnon scored 23 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to topple to the no. 10 Spartans and deliver the Vikes their third straight win. MacKinnon shot 9-18 and scored two crucial baskets in the final 90 seconds to stave off Trinity Western's comeback bid.
With just over a minute left in regulation, MacKinnon sank his fourth and final three-pointer of the game to give the Vikes a five-point lead. The Comox native then hit a lay-up with 16 seconds remaining to again deny the Spartans a chance to tie.
Reigning CIS MVP Jacob Doerksen scored the final basket for the Spartans, his 11th of the night, but left no time on the clock. Doerksen, who played two season at UVic before transferring to Trinity Western, finished with a game high 24 points.
The Vikes took their first lead of the game in the second quarter after their league-leading defence held Trinity Western to five points in the frame. The advantage was short-lived as the game sea-sawed over the next 17 minutes, with the lead changing hands eight times, before the Vikes secured the final lead on a three-pointer by
Cyril Indome. Indome would finish with nine points.
Zac Andrus netted 11 points after a flawless shooting performance. The Vashon, Wash. native shot 3-3 from the field, 2-2 from behind the arc, and 3-3 from the free-throw line.
Wendell Thomas rounded out the scoring leaders with 10 points, and also added eight 'boards. The Vikes shot 42 percent from the floor.
The 3-1 Vikes will be looking to secure their fourth straight victory when the weekend series concludes Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre. The Vikes and Spartans tip-off at 7 p.m. and the game can be watched online at: www.gospartans.ca