BURNABY, B.C. – For the first time in 15 years, Simon Fraser University has defeated rival Western Washington, winning 122-118 Saturday in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball opener for both schools before 1,100 fans at the West Gym.

WWU had won the last 12 meetings with Simon Fraser, nine since SFU became an NCAA member in 2010, last losing to the Clan during the 1997-98 season.

Watch the game in HD on demand at this link: MBB - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYl8-pG0MuE

The confidence-boosting victory couldn't have come on a more appropriate night. Prior to tip-off the university honoured Canadian icon Terry Fox by raising a banner with his name and retired No. 4 to the West Gym rafters. Terry was a SFU student and member of the junior varsity basketball team prior to losing his right leg to bone cancer in 1977 at the age of 18.

Three years later, in the spring of 1980, Terry began his Marathon of Hope, a journey that would ultimately raise more than $600 million worldwide for cancer research.

"We got an emotional lift from the ceremony with the Fox Family honouring Terry and a lot of energy from the crowd," said Clan head coach James Blake. "Our team played to the level of the competition tonight and our seniors stepped it up."

"I'm proud of our university for retiring Terry's No. 4 and I can't thank the Fox Family enough for enabling us to honour Terry's legacy as a basketball player at Simon Fraser."

SFU, which entered the contest averaging an NCAA Division II-best 126.7 points a game, improved to 5-3 overall. Sango Niang led the Clan with 29 points and seven assists, and Justin Cole added 20 points and Roderick Evans-Taylor 18.

The Vikings trailed nearly the entire second half, but pulled to within three points on three occasions in the final five minutes, the last one at 121-118 with seven seconds left. SFU's freshman Denver Sparks-Guest then missed two free throws, and Viking forward Anye Turner grabbed the rebound, but a turnover at midcourt ended the chance to tie the game, and a free throw by Evans-Taylor with three seconds left iced the game for the Clan.

SFU shot 56.8 percent (42-of-74) from the field, including 52.2 percent (12-of-23) on 3-pointers, helping the Clan overcome WWU's 49-40 advantage in rebounds.

The 240 combined points were the most ever in a GNAC game.

WWU had three players score over 20 points each, including Turner with career-highs of 27 points and 20 rebounds. The Vikings, who allowed the most points in school history, fell to 5-3 overall.

WWU shot 50.6 percent (41-of-81) from the field, but were just 5-of-24 (20.8 percent) on 3-pointers, including 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) in the second half. The Vikings were 31-of-46 (67.4 percent) on free throws, hitting 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) in the second half.

SFU entertains Capilano University on Dec. 16 (7 p.m.) at the West Gym.