EDMONTON - The Victoria Vikes boasted six scorers in double digits as they toppled the host Golden Bears 92-71 in a rematch of the 2022 Canada West final Friday night at the Saville Centre.
It truly was death by one-thousand cuts for the hosts, as a remarkably deep Vikes bench was too much on both ends of the floor. They shot an even 50% from the floor, while holding the Bears to just a 35.6% mark.
The Vikes move to 4-1 on the season, good for second in the conference so far. The Bears drop to 2-3 with the loss, a tough start to the season for the defending U SPORTS Bronze medalists.
Both teams started hot out of the gate, shooting a combined 60% from the field in the first five minutes of action, but Alberta held a slight advantage due to the phenomenal play of Julian Vaughns. He had seven points in the quarter, and added a three and an incredible five steals in what was a great start to the game for the second-year Bears guard. He was supplanted by fifth-year guard Brandon Meiklejohn who hit two consecutive threes near the end of the quarter to help the Bears build a 23-19 lead headed into the second. The Vikes had depth in scoring, as six players found the scoresheet in the first frame.
Third-year Vikes guard Diego Maffia had a hot hand to start the second, splashing a tough three before putting back a fadeaway jumper to bring Victoria into the lead early. Vaughns continued his great performance to keep the Bears in lockstep with the Vikes, but two threes from fifth-year Trent Monkman helped the Vikes maintain momentum through the majority of the quarter. Down the stretch Monkman and fellow fifth-year Dominick Oliveri impressed for Victoria to send the visitors into the break with a 42-39 lead. Vaughns led all scorers at the half with 11 points, and added three rebounds and four assists in a complete two-way half for the Bears young star.
Monkman continued to build on his good game, scoring a quarter-high seven points in the third and adding a thunderous dunk in the middle of the quarter. Victoria shot the ball well in the frame, opening up a 67-55 lead going into the fourth. Vaughns paced the Bears with three points. The Bears were largely undone by poor shooting, going 5/15 from the field, as the Vikes pestered every look for the hosts and they were unable to take advantage of the rare open opportunity.
If the comeback was hard for the Bears entering the final frame, second-year Vikes forward Ethan Boag ensured it was a near insurmountable deficit within the first three minutes. He opened the quarter with a slashing dunk, popped a deep three, and dished an assist to a cutting Izzy Helman all in successive possessions. The visitors outscored the Bears 25-16 in the final frame as they coasted to a 92-71 final in Edmonton.
The teams return to action tomorrow night in the final regular season matchup between the two squads.
