VICTORIA – Jeff Cullen scored the game-winning basket with just a second left on the game clock, as the UVic Vikes men’s basketball team won a 56-55 defensive battle over the Fraser Valley Cascades.
Cullen lifted the Vikes from behind twice in the final minutes. First the senior from Oak Bay nailed a clutch three-pointer to break a 51-51 deadlock, and then followed up with his game-winning hoop – a jumper from the elbow that hit nothing but net.
Fraser Valley’s last-second shot attempt fell short, allowing the Vikes to improve to 8-6 in the Canada West standings and pass Fraser Valley. The Cascades dropped to 8-7.
“Realistically we have to get both this weekend,” said Cullen, who finished with seven points. “We have to take these one at a time, and we were lucky to get a stop at the end there to pull it out.”
In a game that had all the intensity of a playoff match-up, the lead flip-flopped through the first three quarters and the two sides traded baskets throughout the final frame. Scoring was hard to come by in the fourth, as the Vikes and Cascades combined for just 15 points.
Ryan MacKinnon finished with 10 points and Wendell Thomas led the Vikes in scoring with 14 points, shooting 5-10. Thomas scored 11 in the first half as the Vikes took a 33-27 lead into the halftime break.
Fraser Valley’s frontcourt players provided most of the scoring, with Jasper Moedt leading the visitors with 14 points and Kyle Grewal recording a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. The Cascades prolific backcourt of Zeon Gray, Sam Freeman and Joel Friesen combined for 22 points, well off their season average.
The rematch between the two sides will be carried out Saturday night with a 7 p.m. tip-off at McKinnon Gym. The Vikes need another win to hold ground in the Canada West playoff chase.
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