CapU Blues sports info

An 11-0 run in the fourth quarter by the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners, just when the Capilano Blues had gotten within two possessions of tying the game, vaulted the visitors to a 94-80 win Friday at CapU's Centre for Sport and Wellness (CSW).

Sukhraj Garcha made a three for Capilano to bring the Blues within six at 73-67 early in the fourth quarter but VIU, the perennial PACWEST contender, used their next five possessions to go layup, free throws, three-pointer, layup, layup to get back in front by 17 on their way to victory.

The night started well for the Blues as they scored 27 in the opening frame and led by eight after 10 minutes with Garcha and Kash Lang netting seven apiece. VIU turned the tables in the second, limiting Capilano to 15 while Kye Kotapski-Tinga scored 13 of his game-high 28 to put the Mariners up 48-42 at half. 

Lang hit two of his four threes on the night and had eight of his 27 points in the third though he and his teammates trailed by seven heading to the final frame. The Blues weren't secure with the ball down the stretch, committing nine of their 24 turnovers in the fourth quarter which allowed VIU to pull away and improve to 14-3 in PACWEST play.

Capilano (10-7) got six points off the bench from Justin Pamintuan, who hit a pair of threes, while Zach Klim filled his stat line with 11 points, eight boards, five assists, a steal and a block. The Blues shot a healthy 50 per cent from the field (31-for-62) but got 15 fewer shots up than VIU as the Mariners shot 44 per cent on 34-of-77 shooting.

The teams have a quick turnaround and play again Saturday in a 3 p.m. tipoff at the CSW.