Timberwolves fall to nationally-ranked Vikes
Prince George, BC – The nationally-ranked University of Victoria swept the the UNBC Timberwolves on their two game road trip to UNBC. The No.5 Vikes downed the Timberwolves in their second game 93-67 moving to 12-2 while the Timberwolves fall to 4-10.
The Vikes were dynamic from all angles; working the perimeter and inside Terrell Evans (Las Vegas, NV) led scoring with 25 points and five rebounds. Centre Chris McLaughlin (Oakville, ON) was a force the Timberwolves had no answer too. McLaughlin finished with 18 points and five rebounds for the night. Kyle Peterson (Edmonton, AB) and Reiner Theil (West Vancouver, BC) were both in double-digits with 13 and 11 respectively.
The Timberwolves were challenged on offence but managed to work through the pressure. Even with the double team closing in on him whenever he got the ball down low, Franck Olivier Kouagnia (Yaounde, CMR) led the Timberwolves with 16 points. Gagan Sahota (Surrey, BC) came off the bench and went three for three from behind the arc for a total of 11 points, the only other Timberwolf in double-digits.
A slow start for the Timberwolves saw them drop 13 points to the Vikes in the first quarter alone. Going back and forth for the first five minutes it looked like the Timberwolves were going to be able to play to the Vikes' tempo until the Vikes went on a 8-0 run to get ahead. With just under two minutes to play in the first quarter Charles Barton (Vernon, BC) put up a floater to bring the score to single digits but the Vikes would answer spreading the gap back to 13 by the end of the quarter.
Coming into the second quarter the Timberwolves trailed 11 points when Kouagnia started to work in the paint. The fourth year post went on a streak keeping the Timberwolves within reach of the Vikes. Five minutes in and Timberwolves' fans started to get excited as Jeff Chu (Vancouver, BC) drained a three to cut the Vikes lead to only eight but the Vikes had an answer. Peterson knocked down back to back threes that went unanswered followed by another three with forty seconds left in the half to put the Vikes ahead 42-29 at the break.
The Timberwolves had to grind to keep the margin close, working Kouagnia inside and Chu on the perimeter. For every UNBC shot the Vikes answered right back keeping the deficit around 10 points until the Vikes went on another run, netting 11 points before the Timberwolves could score again. McLaughlin and Evans continued to impress throughout the fourth quarter, challenging the Timberwolves defence on every possession. By the end of the game the No. 5 Vikes downed the Timberwolves 93-67.
The No.5 University of Victoria Vikes will return to Victoria, BC to host the Mount Royal Cougars next weekend. Games are set for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24 and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25.
The UNBC Timberwolves are take to the road next weekend when they head down to Vancouver, BC. The Timberwolves will face off against the UBC Thunderbirds Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25. Both games can be viewed live at canadawest.tv
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