Week 12 Preview: Men's Basketball

It’s Week 12 of the men’s PACWEST basketball schedule and it tips off on Thursday night with a pair of teams locking in.

CBC Bearcats @ Langara Falcons – Thursday February 5, 8:00pm | WATCH HERE

With just four points separating these two schools in the standings, the Bearcats and Falcons go head-to-head in the first of a home-and-home in Week 12.

The Falcons (9-9) should be well rested coming off a much-needed bye weekend following a three-game losing skid.   Their defence is coughing up an average of 94 points during this slide and are desperate to turn it around heading into the final month of the campaign.   On the offensive side they are shooting 38% and averaging over 79 points a game.  They have been decent on their home floor at 6-4 looking to continue the winning trend at Langara this weekend. Aaron Ungprasert continues to lead them dropping in over 14 a game.

This potentially is a first round playoff matchup with only four points between them and the Bearcats (7-11) winning three of their last four. They split the weekend against the Falcons in October but will look to ride this momentum the rest of the year.   Their offence hasn’t seen an issue scoring points with 83 each game, but their defence continues to be their Achillis heel, allowing 93.7 a game, most in the PACWEST.

After a rare Thursday night game, these two schools will have Friday off before resuming their weekend on Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm with the scene shifting to Abbotsford.

Okanagan Coyotes @ VIU Mariners – Friday February 5, 7:00pm | WATCH HERE

The Mariners and Coyotes meet for the second time this season after VIU blasted the Coyotes in October sweeping the weekend with victories of 40 and 34-points respectively.

Coming into the weekend the Mariners (15-3) have won seven straight games and have hit the century mark in four of them.   Overall, their offence is scoring over 94-points a game and will be back at home for the first time since January 10^th.  Oddly enough, two of their three losses this season have come at home.   They have the most balanced offence in the Conference with five players averaging at least 13 points a game and are shooting 48%.

The Coyotes (7-13) have won three of their last four, extending the playoff cushion and pulling into a fifth-place tie in the standings in the process.  Their offence is starting to pick up the pace and have the last two Athletes of the Week.  Defensively however continues to be a factor giving up over 85 points a game and head into VIU to meet the Conference’s best offence.  They will need to be sharp this weekend to avoid a pair of lopsided scores.

These schools will meet for the last time this season on Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm.

Douglas Royals @ Capilano Blues – Friday February 5, 8:00pm | WATCH HERE

A pair of teams going in opposite directions meet for the final time this year.  The Blues swept their first meeting in October by 13 and 16 points respectively. 

The Blues (10-8) have hit a cold spell and have lost four in a row, all to teams they are chasing in the standings.  Their shooting has fallen short during this skid but overall are shooting 44% and scoring over 85 a game.  With his collegiate career winding down, Kash Lang continues to be their biggest threat from outside or finding room to drive, he’s averaging over 19 points a game.   Zach Klim appears to be getting better as the season moves on, now chipping in with over 13 points a game and continues to be a force down low blocking shots or alternating how an opponent attacks the hoop.   The Blues are currently two points up on the Langara Falcons for third place in the standings.

The Royals (3-17) have four games remaining in the season and anything short of a win this weekend will eliminate them officially from postseason play.   They haven’t tasted victory since November 22^nd and would like nothing more then to spoil the Blues plans of success this weekend.  They come into the game scoring 71 points a game on 39% shooting.

These schools will meet again on Saturday night at 7:00pm to conclude Week 12.