Braedan Willis, Vikes Communications 

VICTORIA- It went down to the wire for the second straight night but this time it was the University of Victoria Vikes men's basketball team coming out victorious over the Regina Cougars by a score of 83-80 at the CARSA Performance Gym in Victoria. 

After last night's buzzer-beater finale, Regina once again had possession in the dying seconds in need of a three to tie the game. The Cougars missed their first shot, corralled the rebound and managed a second shot just before the final horn sounded but could not sink the game tying shot. 

"I was really proud of our effort tonight," said Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp. "We have a bunch of guys out with injury right now so it would have been easy for us to come into tonight with excuses but the guys dug deep and found ways to be successful."

The win improves the Vikes record to 5-7 while the Cougars fall to 8-4.

"It was two pretty evenly matched teams going at it again tonight," commented Cougars head coach Steve Burrows. "It is always difficult to pick up two road wins especially against Victoria. They deserved the win tonight." 

Scott Kellum carried the Vikes to 44-36 half time lead over the Cougars. The third-year from Washington dropped 18 points for home side including five three pointers. Kellum was the only player in the game to crack double digits in the first half. For the second consecutive night fourth-year Greishe Clerjuste continued to lead Regina in scoring, posting eight points through two quarters. 

Trailing by double digits, the Cougars clawed their way back into the game in the third quarter by converting on a few missed baskets by the Vikes. A three point shot from Clerjuste with less than three minutes to play in the quarter brought the score to 54-49 and Regina back to within five. Myles Hamilton began to find his form bringing his game total up to 14 after scoring nine in the quarter. The Vikes remained on top holding 58-54 lead heading into the final frame. 

Kameron Vales sank a trey to pull the visitors back to within three points of the Vikes with two minutes remaining in the game. Jordan Charles answered immediately with a three pointer of his own on the very next Victoria possession. Now up 83-80 with less than 10 seconds remaining, Vikes guard Aaron Tesfagiorgis fumbled a ball out of bounds giving the Cougars a chance to tie the game. Regina fired two three point attempts before time was up be neither could find the basket, giving the Vikes the victory by a final of 83-80.

Victoria will host the Fraser Valley Cascades next weekend in the CARSA Performance Gym while the Cougars will return home to Saskatchewan to face the UBC Okanagan Heat. All games can be watched live on at canadawest.TV 

SCORING SUMMARY
             1          2          3          4:         F         
VIC:     22        22       14        25:       83
REG:     17        19       18        26:       80
 
SCORING LEADERS

VIC:  Scott Kellum (23), Jordan Charles (21), Jake Newman (12)

REG: Greishe Clerjuste (20), Myles Hamilton (20), Carter Millar (13)