Brent Mutis
CapU sports info
Despite missing a couple key players and what looks like a serious injury for another, the Capilano Blues overcame the challenges and earned two road wins at Langara College to get back to the .500 mark (7-7) for the season.
In the first games back after the exam and holiday break, CapU was without rookie guard Arshya Ghasemi and physical forward Anthony Tamburrino who are both working through injuries and appeared to lose import forward David Featherston Jr. late in Friday's game. Fortunately, the team's depth came through and the addition of a few new faces for the second half of the campaign looks like it will be necessary for another long stay in the postseason.
In Friday's dramatic 85-84 win, recent lineup addition Suraj Gahir hit the game-winning bucket, a long jumper with 10 seconds to go, to snag a late come-from-behind victory where CapU trailed by seven with less than three minutes to go.
Capilano maintained a four-point lead into halftime but Langara's Moeiz Athaya, the PACWEST's all-time leading scorer, got going in the second half with 16 of his 26 on the night over the final 20 minutes to put the home side in position for the win. Langara's offence stalled in the final four minutes though as they scored just two buckets in that span, allowing Featherston and Gahir to do damage with the Blues duo combining for 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Featherston went down hard after a defensive possession in the final minute and had to be helped off the floor. Gahir wound up with the ball in his hands and got a long two-pointer off which reached its mark to secure the win.
On Saturday, import guard Kash Lang led the Blues with a season-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds en route to a 77-65 CapU victory. Lang scored 14 in the final frame to seal the deal for Capilano.
The PACWEST schedule brings a challenge this coming weekend with CCAA No. 6-ranked Vancouver Island University visiting Capilano. Game times are 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20.
