Starting '22 with a 23-point win
Cameron Gay's triple-double leads Mariners over Bearcats, 91-68
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Fifth-year forward Cameron Gay earned a rare triple-double as the Mariners kicked off 2022 with a 91-68 victory over the Columbia Bible College Bearcats.
The Mariners improved to 7-0 in the 2021-22 PACWEST regular season while the Bearcats fell to 0-7.
Despite the difference between the two teams in the standings, the Bearcats played the Mariners close throughout the first half. The first quarter ended with a 21-19 VIU advantage and CBC surged in the second quarter, earning a 35-27 lead before Mariners head coach Matt Kuzminski called a timeout.
After the stoppage, VIU switched away from an emphasis on long-range shooting to aggressively attack the basket and earn fouls from the CBC defenders. VIU retook the lead and the first half ended with a 45-44 advantage for the Mariners.
With three regular starters out of the VIU lineup, first-year forward Kai Leighton stepped up and made his presence felt, totalling 12 points and 10 rebounds in the half.
The second half belonged to the Mariners, as the team opened up with 7-0 runs in both quarters. The 7-0 run to kick off the third quarter was part of an 18-2 run that solidified the Mariner advantage.
Gay was heavily involved on both ends of the floor, earning most of his stats in the second half to end with 18 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds (all on the defensive end). Richard Henderson was dangerous in the paint all day long, scoring a game-high 26 to go along with 17 rebounds. Leighton also ended up with a double-double: 17 points and 16 rebounds.
Aaron Adrian led the Bearcats with 17 points. Both teams utilized short benches: the Mariners played seven players, while the Bearcats only played with six.
UP NEXT
Next weekend (January 14 & 15), the Mariners are scheduled to face the Langara Falcons (6-3) in Vancouver -- part of a January schedule of road games for VIU.
Of note: the PACWEST is currently mandating that all games are to be free of spectators until further notice. Any updates or changes to this policy will be announced by the PACWEST. Games can be watched online at PACWEST.LIVE.