Weekend Preview: Taking Offence
Two of the top three shooting teams in the PACWEST, VIU and CBC, match up to start 2026
NANAIMO - Basketball fans at the VIU Gym should expect offensive fireworks this weekend as VIU (91.25 points per game) and CBC (84.3 ppg) match up to start the new year.
Who, When & Where
- VIU Mariners (9-3, first in the PACWEST, CCAA ranked #5) vs CBC Bearcats (4-8, tied for fifth in the PACWEST)
- Friday, January 9 at the VIU Gymnasium, Nanaimo, 8 pm
- Saturday, January 10 at VIU Gymnasium, 3 pm
Tune In
Games are streamed on the VIU Mariners Athletics YouTube page.
Head-To-Head
VIU earned two sizeable wins over CBC in October: 106-67 and 101-78. Ekman Sohal scored 30 points to lead VIU in the first game and seven Mariners scored in double-digits in the rematch, led by Kai Leighton's 20 points.
Watch Out Now
CBC: The Bearcats are led by a dynamic duo of Dane-Dre Anglin and D'Andre Palmer-Ormsby. Anglin leads the conference with 22.4 points per game and is fourth in rebounds. Palmer-Ormsby trails only Anglin at 20.4 points per game and leads the PACWEST in steals and assists.
VIU: Kye Kotapski-Tinga sits third in the conference with 18.5 points per game and Ekman Sohal leads the conference in three-point percentage, making 50% of his attempts. Point guard Ryan Bastian is second in the PACWEST in both steals and assists.
Spring Additions
The Mariners welcomed two additions to the roster for the spring semester: Keyonte Beals, who was a teammate with Kotapski-Tinga at the U Sports level with St. FX in Nova Scotia, and Kaleb Wilson, a 6'11" forward from San Diego who transferred from Southwestern College.
For more information, please contact VIU Mariners Communications & Sports Information Coordinator Matt Carter.