Men's Basketball Week 13 Preview

With the men’s PACWEST basketball schedule winding down, the schools enter Week 13 with plenty still on the line.

VIU Mariners @ Camosun Chargers – Friday February 13, 8:00pm | WATCH HERE

This weekend is a first-place showdown as the Mariners visit the Chargers with four points separating them in the standings.  They split their doubleheader at VIU at the end of the November, the Chargers winning the first game by five, before the Mariners bounced back the next day with a nine-point victory.

Since that loss to the Chargers on November 28^th the Mariners (17-3) have been rolling, winning nine straight games and find themselves one win away from clinching the #1 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.  Coming into their final road trip of the year, they are scoring a Conference best 94.7 points a game and shooting 47%.

The Chargers (15-5) will be well prepared for the Mariners, coming off their bye week. They have won five straight and seven of their last eight games.  They are at home for the final four games of the regular season and will host the PACWEST championship during the first week of March.  As they head into the weekend, they are holding teams to a Conference low 70.3 points a game which will no doubt be tested by the high-flying Mariners.  Their own offence is scoring 77.4 a game and shooting 40%.

These two schools meet one more time here in the regular season on Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm.

Capilano Blues @ CBC Bearcats – Friday February 13, 8:00pm | WATCH HERE

It’s a potential playoff preview as the Blues visit the Bearcats for a weekend twin bill.  In their first doubleheader weekend, the Blues won both games, the first by 14 points, then five the next day.

The Blues (12-8) currently sit as the third seed, two points up on the surging Langara Falcons.  Last weekend they snapped their four-game losing streak and swept their doubleheader at home against the Douglas Royals.  They are shooting 45% and scoring 86 points a game but have struggled on the road this season with a 4-5 record.

They will face a Bearcats team (7-13) in a fifth-place tie with the Okanagan Coyotes but have two games in hand.  The third seed will meet the sixth seed in a quarterfinal on Day 1 of the championship playoff tournament.  The ‘Cats were swept last weekend and have just one win in their last four as they play their final home games of the season.  They have clinched a playoff spot however the position of that spot is still yet to be determined.  They are shooting 41% and are scoring 84 a game.

On Saturday night these two will conclude Week 13 when they tip off at 7:00pm.

Langara Falcons @ Okanagan Coyotes – Friday February 13, 8:00pm | WATCH HERE

Both the Falcons and Coyotes are fighting for playoff positioning this weekend as they meet for the second doubleheader of the year.  When they met at the end of November, the Falcons won both games at Langara by seven and 32 points respectively. 

Last weekend the Falcons (11-9) snapped their three-game losing streak with a pair of wins over the CBC Bearcats, the second in dramatic fashion with a three-pointer made with seven seconds to go.  They are scoring over 81 points a game and shooting 39% from the field. Coming into Week 13 they are two points back of third place and will play three of their final four games on the road.

The Coyotes (7-15) will play their final two games of the regular season this weekend, getting an extra week of rest before the PACWEST championship tournament opens in March.  They are currently in a fifth-place tie with the CBC Bearcats and need to win this weekend because the Bearcats have two games in hand.  The Coyotes have lost three straight and are shooting 42% while scoring 77 points a game coming into their final weekend.

On Saturday afternoon these two schools meet again at 3:00pm.