Top Seeded VIU Will Play For Gold

Photo courtesy of Vancouver Sports Pictures

The VIU Mariners showed why they are the #1 team in the PACWEST with a hard fought 86-71 victory over the Douglas College Royals in Friday’s semi-final and will play for gold on Saturday.

The Mariners shot 48% from the field and 50% from downtown in the victory led by the PACWEST player of the year Usama Zaid.  He was 6-9 from the three-point line and finished with a game high 33 points.  In the third quarter alone he hit four-three pointers and was named the player of the game.  The Mariners supporting cast was just as good as Jalen Schlegel dropped in 14 and Bryson Cox scored 11.  

The Royals fought hard but foul trouble to starters Malcolm Mensah and Grant Campbell hampered their offence.  Reese Morris was solid with 21 points and 12 rebounds and Campbell finished with 13.  As a team the Royals shot 36.6% from the field.

The Mariners will now play for the PACWEST gold medal on Saturday night when they face the Capilano Blues who upset the Langara Falcons in the first men’s semi-final.    Tip-off is set for 8:00pm on the campus of Quest University.

Also on Saturday the Royals will play for PACWEST bronze at 3:00pm when they face the Falcons.