Abbotsford, BC – Rookie Marcus Flores scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as the UFV Cascades looked to make a comeback in the fourth quarter, but it proved to be too late as the University of Victoria Vikes came away with a 97-86 victory on Saturday at the UFV Athletic Centre. The result sees the Cascades fall to 1-3 so far this year, while Victoria moves to 3-1.

As it happened: 
After starting slowly the night before, the Cascades pressed the nation's No. 2 ranked early. The teams found themselves level at 19 with just over three minutes left in the first quarter. However, an 11-2 run gave the Vikes a nine-point lead just before the end of the frame.

UFV and Victoria went back and forth in the second, with the Cascades cutting the deficit to just one before the Vikes reestablished an eight-point lead at the halftime break.

A pair of jumpers from Renaldo Robinson helped the Vikes go on a 13-0 run at the start of the third. The visitors increased the lead to as many as 27, and UFV trailed by 22 heading into the fourth.

Five buckets from Marcus Flores helped the Cascades gain momentum as they clawed back with an 18-5 run. A Dario Lopez basket with 2:05 remaining pulled UFV within eight once again, but consecutive Victoria scores sunk the comeback bid in the late stages.

Top performers: 

Marcus Flores scored 19 points and added five boards, as the rookie shined for the Cascades. Dylan Kinley notched a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Dario Lopez added 13 points.

Diego Maffia led all players with 29 points and six assists in the contest for Victoria. Elias Ralph chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds.

Quotable:
Cascades head coach Joe Enevoldson

"We had an awful first quarter last night, and then got better throughout the game. We wanted to build on that tonight, and I thought we did for the most part. We came out after halftime and reverted back to those first quarter ways from Friday night and we can't do that, but I look at it and for 35 minutes tonight we were right there with a top team in the country."

"I thought Marcus [Flores] was awesome tonight. The bench guys came in after the start of the third, and Arpan [Singh] hit a couple of shots. Takeshi [Croke] had probably his best performance in a Cascades uniform."

Cascades rookie Marcus Flores

"Yesterday our second half was so much better than our first, we had to carry that energy into today. It was really important for us, and I think that first half was some of the best basketball I've seen us play. It was just that third quarter we slipped up, but I respect the guys for coming back in the fourth and still bringing that energy."

"I'm really happy with the trust that coach has given me, and I feel like the guys around me are really propelling me, bringing me up. It's the team. Everybody's helping me fly. It's great."

Up next:
The Cascades get set to host the 2-2 UBC Okanagan Heat next Friday and Saturday at the UFV Athletic Centre. UFV Students attend for free with a valid student ID. Tickets can be purchased online at gocascades.ca/tickets, and the game can also be seen live on canadawest.tv.