The University of Victoria Vikes men’s basketball team, ranked No. 1 in U SPORTS, swept the visiting UFV Cascades in a two-game Canada West series at CARSA Performance Gym over the January 9-10 weekend, improving to 11-2 overall while dropping UFV to 7-6.
On Friday, January 9, the Vikes dominated for a 90-81 victory. Victoria built a commanding 50-30 halftime lead after outscoring UFV 25-16 in the first quarter and 25-14 in the second. The Cascades mounted a strong third-quarter comeback, outscoring the Vikes 28-18 to trim the deficit to 10 points entering the fourth, but Victoria held firm with a 22-23 final frame to secure the win. Geoffrey James, Shadynn Smid, and Renoldo Robinson each scored 19 points to lead the balanced Vikes attack. For UFV, Bennett O’Connor posted 17 points and seven rebounds, while Marcus Flores added 16 points and nine boards (including 12 second-half points, 10 in the third).
Saturday’s January 10 rematch was tighter, with the Vikes prevailing 83-73 after a decisive third quarter. The teams traded runs in a back-and-forth first half, with UFV rallying to a slim 41-40 halftime edge after outscoring Victoria 27-19 in the second. The Vikes exploded for a 23-12 third-quarter advantage, building a 10-point lead heading into the fourth. Both sides traded buckets in the final frame, but Victoria matched every Cascades push to close out the sweep. Ethan Boag paced the Vikes with 18 points, Cameron Slaymaker added 16, and Renoldo Robinson contributed 17. UFV was led by Dario Lopez with 18 points and nine rebounds, Bennett O’Connor with 16 points and seven assists, and Dilveer Randhawa with 13 points on efficient three-point shooting.
The series showcased Victoria’s depth and resilience against a gritty Cascades squad fighting back in both contests. The Vikes maintain their grip atop the Pacific Division standings.
