The Vikes, despite 18 points from Terrell Evans, fell 96-88 to Concordia University-Irvine on Monday, giving UVic a split of their two-game tour to Los Angeles.
Concordia, the No. 19-ranked NAIA team in the U.S., used 28 points from Peter Smith, while guard Brandon Dunlop chipped in 14 for UVic, which led 48-45 at the half.
The day before, Evans racked up 22 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Vikes to a 55-52 win over Biola University of La Mirada, California. Michael Acheampong also had a strong game for the Vikes, scoring 11 points and adding five assists.
In women’s action, the Vikes lost both their games at the annual Holiday Hoops Tournament in La Mirada.
The Vikes opened with a 63-43 loss to Biola, and then gave tournament favourite and No. 3-ranked NAIA team Vanguard University all they could handle before bowing out by a 72-62 score.
Third-year forward Jessica Renfrew led the Vikes against Vanguard with a game-high 31 points, including four three-pointers.
Both Vikes teams are off now until Jan. 11-12, when they travel to Manitoba to face the Winnipeg Wesmen and Manitoba Bisons.
Cowichan hosts Elite hoops event
It’s the Island versus Alberta and Saskatchewan at this week’s Cowichan Elite Invitational senior boys basketball tournament.
The host Thunderbirds are welcoming to Duncan the best basketball teams on the Island and some of the top teams in Western Canada as high school teams start to get back into game mode after the Christmas break.
Representing the Island at the tournament, which runs today through Saturday at Cowichan Secondary, are the Oak Bay Bays — the top ranked triple-A team on the Island, and St. Michaels University School — the top ranked double-A boys team on the Island. Also in attendance will be the Belmont Bulldogs and the Dover Bay Dolphins of Nanaimo.
The out-of-province teams include Edmonton’s Harry Ainlay, Calgary’s St. Mary’s and Sheldon-Williams Collegiate out of Regina. Harry Ainlay won the Edmonton city championships last season, while St. Mary’s is off to a 3-0 start in the Calgary city league.
Action begins today with SMUS taking on Sheldon-Williams at 1:30 p.m.; Belmont playing Dover Bay at 3:15; Cowichan and St. Mary’s battling at 5 p.m.; with Oak Bay and Harry Ainlay tipping off at 7 p.m.
Round-robin play continues all day Friday. The semifinals are slated for 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, with the gold-medal game going Saturday at 5:45 p.m.
