Metro Vancouver…..The KPU Eagles dropped both road games this past week; on Thursday to the Capilano University Blues, 92-62, and on Saturday to the Quest University Canada Kermodes, 63-49, to push their 2014/15 PACWEST record to 2-14 and sit in seventh place in the PACWEST, just out of the playoffs.
The Eagles’ season series with the PACWEST sixth-place Blues comes to close at 0-3 in favor of Capilano as Thursday’s loss joins results from November 7, 2014, 77-67, and January 17, 2015, 104-72. The Eagles are six points shy of tying Capilano for the sixth playoff berth. The Eagles’ season series with the Kermodes is also 0-3, but Saturday’s loss was the best result KPU has shown against Quest this season. Their November 8, 2014 game ended at 76-45 while the January 16th game was decided at 87-59.
Only one game is scheduled for this week as the Eagles take on their traveling partner, the eight-place CBC Bearcats in Abbotsford, BC this Friday the 13th at 8:00pm.
Game recap versus the Capilano University Blues
An early scoring run by Capilano found KPU down 25-9 after 10 minutes and behind 41-27 at the half. The Eagles fought for their shots in the third and had a stronger fourth quarter, almost matching the Blues scoring pace but ended the night with a 30-point deficit, 92-62.
“Offensively we moved the ball well, the problem was Cap had a great game and it was really hard to stop them,” said Eagles head coach Vladimir Nikić, “Most of the time we played good defense, but their shot selection was very uncharacteristic and unusual. It caught us off guard and they were making their shots.”
First-year guard Brenden Bailey, Coquitlam, BC, came out strong for KPU (28 points, three rebounds, one assist, two steals), as did first-year power forward Matt (Madison) Cooley, Delta, BC (14 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot, one steal). From the line the Eagles shot 65% for the game.
The Blues were led by second-year guard Paulius Makulavicius, Vancouver, BC (21 points, four rebounds, six assists) and first-year forward Luke Collombin, Victoria, BC (18 points, six rebounds, one blocked shot, two steals). Capilano shot 53% from the line.
Scoring:
KPU 9+18+12+23 = 62
CAP: 25+16+26+25 = 92
Rebounds:
KPU: 26+27=53/CAP: 21+26=47
KPU Eagles #23 Nick Smith puts his wingspan on display for a layup against the Capilano University Blues
Game recap versus the Quest University Canada Kermodes
The Eagles showed their potential and tenacity on Saturday in Squamish against the Kermodes, as a seven-player roster gave KPU little room for error and a test of their will. An eight-point gap at the half, 29-21, only grew to 14 by the night’s end and KPU showed great resilience from their young team as five of seven players are in their first-year of university basketball.
“Saturday was how I want my guys to play in the future. They played with a lot of integrity and composure, they moved the ball extremely well, and defensively they guarded the paint well,” stated Coach Nikić, “We dominated the boards and handled their penetration well, my guys did a great job both ends of the floor and kept the score down. I’m pretty proud of my team and how they connected.“
First-year Eagles power forward Matt (Madison) Cooley had an exceptional game with his fourth-university career double-double, and was only four assists short of a triple double. Cooley had 19 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two blocked shots during 40 minutes of play while being in foul trouble for the last minutes of the fourth quarter. First-year forward Trevor Schulz, Richmond, BC continues to demonstrate his confidence in his game (11 points, three rebounds, one steal), along with first-year power forward Nick Smith, Surrey, BC (8 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal). The Eagles shot 50% from the line in the second half after going 0/2 in the first.
The Kermodes were led by second-year forward Noah DeRappard-Yuswack, Vancouver, BC, (13 points, six rebounds, two steals) and third-year guard Dallas Searles, Kirkland, WA, USA, (8 points, four rebounds, two assists, four steals). Quest shot 68% from the line for the game.
“We were struggling all season-long to protect the paint and were outrebounded every game,” Coach Nikić commented further, “We had an impact on how quest played. We kept them off the glass, moved the ball well. Again, I was very proud of our guys.”
Scoring:
KPU: 14+18+10+13 = 55
QST: 9+22+19+21 = 71
Rebounds:
KPU: 18+17=35/QST: 15+26=41
The Eagles play CBC in Abbotsford at 8:00pm on Friday, February 13th. KPU continues to play on the road for the month of February, for full schedule details, please visit: http://www.kpu.ca/athletics/teams/basketball-men/schedule-results1415
Photo Credit: KPU Sports Information
For more information on the Department of Athletics & Recreation, please contact Junelle Mah, sports information and marketing, at 604-786-0804 or at junelle.mah@kpu.ca.
The KPU Eagles Department of Athletics & Recreation enters its 14th season of interuniversity competition. The Eagles are members of the PACWEST conference and play in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with 100 student-athletes participating on eight varsity teams in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, badminton and golf. KPU athletics plays its home games at the Eagles’ Nest (Surrey Campus), Northview Golf & Country Club, Newton Athletic Park, all located in Surrey, BC and the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC. The Eagles are active in the conference with staff members on various advisory committees and competing to host both provincial and national championships. The student-athletes are mainly from the lower mainland but KPU’s rosters have included student-athletes from North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
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