Capped Out
Mariners fall 75-70 to the host Capilano Blues in the PACWEST conference final
NORTH VANCOUVER, BC - The third-seeded Capilano Blues stopped VIU's run towards a second consecutive PACWEST championship, upsetting the Mariners with a 75-70 victory in the conference gold medal game.
The top-seeded Mariners led 39-36 at the half with VIU guard Kameron Bender leading the Mariners with 17 points. The Blues battled back and the game was tied entering the fourth quarter. Capilano's Ahmad Athman, who was only two minutes shy of playing the entire game, scored 11 points in the second half to push the Blues into a lead it would not relinquish.
Mariners forward Kai Leighton had a monster fourth quarter in a effort to keep the Mariners in it, scoring 9 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. However, it was not enough to compensate for hot shooting from the Blues. Capilano shot over 40% in the second half while the Mariners connected on only 33% of their shots.
Kai Leighton (#10) and Kam Bender (#3) with their player of the game and PACWEST Tournament awards. Photos courtesy Capilano University Blues
After the game, Leighton was named VIU's Player of the Game and Bender was named to the PACWEST Championship all-star team. The Blues advanced to the CCAA Men's Basketball National Championship in Montreal, Quebec, while the Mariners season came to a close with conference silver medals and a 22-4 overall record (regular season and post-season.)
The Mariners had advanced to the PACWEST gold medal game following a 77-63 victory over the CBC Bearcats in the conference semifinal. Kam Bender scored 20 points and was named VIU player of the game.
Strange Stat: The Mariners have alternated gold and silver medal finishes in the PACWEST every season since 2016-17.
VIU men's basketball now turns its attention to the 2025-26 season--one where it knows it will battle for national gold as the host team for the 2026 CCAA Men's Basketball National Championship, March 18-21.