Aug. 29, 2008

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific Men's Basketball team will face Vancouver Island University and the University of Victoria in a three-game trip over the upcoming holiday weekend.

The Tigers will begin the trip with a game against Vancouver Island University on Saturday, August 30 at 4:00 p.m. It will mark the first time an NCAA Division I men's basketball team has played a game at the Nanaimo, British Columbia campus. Pacific will then travel to Victoria, B.C. for two games against the University of Victoria. The Tigers and Vikes will play on Sunday, August 31 at 7:00 p.m., and then again Monday morning at 11:00 a.m.

NCAA basketball teams can take an international trip every four years. Pacific was allowed to practice 10 days before the trip, giving the team a bit of an extra edge heading into the regular season. The Tigers last trip was prior to the 2004-05 regular season, helping that team prepare for a school-record 27 wins. The first practice of the 2008-09 season will take place on October 17, before the Tigers open the regular season at Cal on Nov. 15.

Eight players return from last year's 21-win team, inculding starters Anthony Brown (Sr., Sacramento, Calif.), Joe Ford (Jr., Altadena, Calif.) and Chad Troyer (Sr., Seattle, Wash.). The Tigers also return seniors James Doran (Cameron Park, Calif.) and Bryan LeDuc (Corona, Calif.), junior Casey Neimeyer (Woodland, Calif.) and sophomores Terrell Smith (Federal Way, Wash.) and Sam Willard (Pierre, S.D.).

Troyer leads all returners in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game last season. Brown was the only other returner in double figures, scoring 10.7 points per game and leading the team with 7.2 rebounds per game.