Brent Mutis, CapU Sport Info & Compliance Officer
In their first Friday-Saturday, two-game weekend of the PACWEST season, the Capilano Blues (2-2) came away with a split in road games at Vancouver Island University (VIU) and Columbia Bible College (CBC).
A sluggish start cost the Blues Friday at the nation's No. 2-ranked VIU Mariners. The hosts got out to an 11-point lead after 10 minutes as CapU shot just 22 per cent from the field in the opening quarter. Things improved only slightly in the second quarter with Josh Vandevelde coming off the bench to score six of his eight points on the night but VIU took a 50-27 lead to the locker room.
The third quarter was Capilano's best of the night with Marko Cosic scoring seven of his 12 points and CJ Campbell adding six. Still, CapU only chipped five points off the VIU lead and the home cruised to the finish with Tori Odom scoring eight of his 24 in the final frame. Four of the five VIU starters finished in double digits in scoring with bruising forward Richard Henderson fashioning an 18-point, 15-rebound double double.
Saturday at CBC, CapU took on a winless Bearcats team but were pushed to the finish as the home side outscored them in the second half.
Capilano built the cushion they'd need in the first half including Tyrone Asenoguan scoring 13 in a 30-point Blues second quarter. Campbell had 12 in the first half on his way to a season-high 18 but the second half was a struggle for his side. The Blues led by as many as 20 early in the second half but the Bearcats chewed into the deficit by slowing the pace while getting 13 second-half points from Brad Lansdell.
It was tough night shooting the ball for CapU as they were just 5-for-22 from three-point range and a disappointing 6-for-16 from the free-throw line.
The Blues play at Douglas College on Thursday, Dec. 1 in an 8 p.m. tipoff and close out the 2022 portion of the schedule at home in an 8 p.m. start against Okanagan College.