Skip to content

Mariners men 'most impressive'

The VIU Mariners faced one of the toughest opponents on the schedule, and responded by playing some of their best basketball.

Vancouver Island University’s men’s basketball team earned two solid victories against the Capilano Blues on Friday and Saturday in North Vancouver, winning by scores of 66-53 and 85-53.

M’s coach Tony Bryce said in a press release that Saturday’s win was “probably the most impressive performance of the year thus far,” as defensive execution was bang on and the offence was balanced.

Jacob Thom had 19 points in that game, Mike Wohlers had 12 points and nine assists and Evan Verdel had nine points, six rebounds and six steals.

The day before, not all of VIU’s shots were falling but defensive play kept the M’s ahead. Patrick McCarthy led the way with 17 points and 11 rebounds and Thom had 15 points, nine boards and five steals.

“I was very pleased with our performance this past weekend,” Bryce said. “We did a lot of very good things. It is about meeting individual [and] team expectations, and not being satisfied with average.”

In women’s action, VIU lost both games to Cap, falling 72-54 on Friday and 83-75 on Saturday.

GAME ON … For more on VIU basketball, please pick up Thursday's issue of the News Bulletin … The Mariners women’s and men’s teams are back on home court at the VIU gym this Friday (Feb. 4) and Saturday to play the UBC-Okanagan Heat. On Friday the women play at 6 p.m. and the men tip off at 8 p.m. Saturday’s games go at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.