The University of Victoria Vikes showed signs of mortality for the first time this season as the team fell to the University of Calgary Dinos during the Canada West semifinals Feb. 28.

The disappointing 77-68 loss for UVic's men's basketball team cost them the opportunity to compete for their fourth consecutive Canada West title. The team will now prepare for the bronze-medal matchup against the University of Manitoba this week.

"We had to do more earlier in the game," said Vikes head coach Murphy Burnatowski.

The Vikes made a strong comeback effort late in game, scoring 13 straight points to bring the game within one score with 2:49 left on the clock. However, the team ultimately fell short as Calgary went on a seven-point run to close the game 77-68, earning the Dinos a spot in the Canada West finals.

"We showed what we can do in the last quarter, going from being down 20 points and cutting it to a one-possession game, but the urgency has to start sooner. Calgary is a good, veteran team with good, veteran leadership that isn't going to let their team lose a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter," said Burnatowski.

The loss could be largely attributed to the Vikes' season-low field goal shooting percentage of just 30.8 per cent. The team entered the matchup 21-0, coming off of an undefeated regular season that carried into their first playoff game against the University of the Fraser Valley, where the Vikes won 106-84.

A low scoring first quarter in the semis initially saw the Vikes open with a 9-2 lead, that was eventually overtaken by Calgary who led 14-13 by the end of the quarter. Calgary extended their lead with a seven-point run in the second, leading by as much as 12 points within the quarter. The Vikes, however, were able to bring the score within six points, as the teams went to halftime with Calgary up 32-26.

"It was a low-scoring first half, and we had a chance to capitalize on that and we didn't. We can't wait until the fourth quarter to start playing basketball," said Burnatowski.

The third quarter saw Calgary build their lead through the quarter as the score tallied 57-37 with a minute remaining, leaving the Vikes with an uphill battle, where their impressive comeback attempt ultimately fell short.

Renoldo Robisnon led the Vikes with 15 points, four rebounds, two steals and a team high four assists, while Sam Maillet added nine rebounds, six points and two steals. Meanwhile, Shadynn Smid made his first appearance for the team since he was sidelined by an injury in January and finished with 13 points, four rebounds and two steals.

The Vikes will now take on the University of Manitoba Bisons, for bronze this Friday at 7 p.m.