The University of Victoria Vikes knew they needed to beware of the emotional wave UBC-O would be riding into Saturday night鈥檚 sa国际传媒 West men鈥檚 basketball game in Kelowna.
UBC-O came into the weekend knowing a sweep of the Vikes would assure a playoff berth. But after UVic won the opener 91-73 on Friday night, the Okanagan hosts (7-13) were suddenly fighting for their playoff lives Saturday.
Not only that, it was the final career home game for UBC-O all-time leading scorer Aldrich Berrios, who received a standing ovation before the game.
But the Vikes (8-10), looking cool and composed, rolled over the hosts 84-59 to bolster UVic鈥檚 own previously flagging playoff ambitions.
There was plenty to be concerned about, but the Vikes sloughed it off to blow out the hosts two straight.
鈥淲e knew they [were] fighting for their lives and looking to this as a bounce back game after Friday night,鈥� said Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp.
鈥淎nd it [was] also the emotion of senior night with the fifth-year UBC-O guys playing their last regular-season game at home.鈥�
UVic point-guard Scott Kellum continued his standout late-season form with 17 points, while Taylor Montgomery-Stinson and Jake Newman added 14 points each and Jason Scully 12 for the Vikes.
Meanwhile, when UBC-Okanagan looked outside for the usual UVic scoring threats in women鈥檚 sa国际传媒 West play, the Vikes went inside to forward Katie Langdon in a weekend sweep.
Langdon scored 23 points and hauled in 14 boards as the Vikes defeated UBC-O 97-62 Saturday night after her 18-point performance in an 81-64 victory in Kelowna on Friday.
Forward Ashlyn Day added to the inside output with 19 points Saturday. That took some of the pressure off outside shooter Amira Giannattasio, as the star guard was content with more of a secondary role with 16 points after scoring 15 on Friday.
The Vikes moved to 10-8 in conference, while last-place UBC-O finished at 1-19.
The Vikes teams close out the sa国际传媒 West regular season next weekend against the MacEwan Griffins from Edmonton on Ken and Kathy Shields Court at CARSA Gymnasium.
