VIU Mariners guard Nick Xylinas, left, goes for a layup as Okanagan Coyotes opponent Curtis Wilson defends on the play Sunday at the VIU gymnasium. GREG SAKAKI/The News Bulletin

VIU Mariners guard Nick Xylinas, left, goes for a layup as Okanagan Coyotes opponent Curtis Wilson defends on the play Sunday at the VIU gymnasium. GREG SAKAKI/The News Bulletin

VIU splits exhibitions with Okanagan College

Vancouver Island University's men's basketball team split a pair of home-court exibition games

The VIU Mariners still need to work at making sure they’re ready for tipoff day in and day out.

Vancouver Island University’s men’s basketball team split a pair of home-court exibition games this past weekend against the Okanagan College Coyotes, winning 97-91 on Saturday but then losing 94-67 on Sunday.

Matt Kuzminski, Mariners coach, said there was a noticeable dropoff in effort and enthusiasm from one day to the next.

“We couldn’t even really talk about X’s and O’s or anything like that, because we didn’t approach it with the right effort,” he said.

Kuzminski said he saw “some really good stuff” in Saturday’s win, with young players showing well and competing.

“A prerequisite to being a good team is competing every night and bringing it every night,” the coach said.

Bryson Cox scored 27 points for VIU in the win, with Tyus Barfoot and Anders Cederberg adding 12 each. The next day Barfoot led the way with 19 and Cox added 16.

GAME ON … VIU’s women visit UVic on Thursday (Oct. 5).

signature

Nanaimo News Bulletin