Mariners Meet Huskies

VIU Mariners vs. George Brown Huskies – Wednesday March 13, 2:00pm PST | WATCH HERE

The PACWEST champion and defending CCAA bronze medalists VIU Mariners open the 2024 national tournament on Wednesday in New Brunswick when they meet the Huskies from Ontario.

This is the second consecutive year the Mariners battle the Huskies at the national championship.  Last year in the bronze medal semi-final the Mariners advanced with a 91-85 victory to end the Huskies season.

The Mariners are making their fourth consecutive trip to the nationals and sixth visit in the last seven seasons.  Distance wise, this is the furthest they’ve been since 2017 in PEI at Holland College making the 5405km trip out to New Brunswick. Not only do they have to deal with stiff competition, but a four-hour time change can play a factor.   It will be important for the Mariners to get off to a quick start to calm any nervous.  A heavy dose inside to PACWEST Player of the Year Adam Anhold might be just what they need.

On the other side the Huskies enter the championship after a blowout loss in the Ontario final to the Humber Hawks 77-45.  During the regular season they finished 14-4 led by Christian Tabiri and his 15.8 points a game. As a team they scored over 86 points a game and shot 44% from the field.

Coming into this tournament the Mariners have won seven national medals, while the Huskies have won two, their last a silver in 1976.

The winner advances to the national semi-final on Thursday.