COM Closes Regular Season on High Note, Playoff Bound February 20, 2026 | Updated: February 20, 2026
The College of Marin men's basketball team has done it. Finishing the regular season with a win over Alameda on Thursday night, the Mariners (19-9, 10-6 Bay Valley) close out the year in second place in the Bay Valley Conference — and the 3C2A NorCal Regional bracket is now set. The Mariners have earned a home game, hosting Cañada College on Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00 PM at Don Barksdale Court in Kentfield. View the full bracket here.
It's been a season full of statement moments, none bigger than this past Tuesday's road victory over Yuba College — the conference's dominant force that had already clinched the Bay Valley title. Knocking off the 49ers away from home, with the postseason on the line, said everything about the character of this year's group.
Head Coach LyRyan Russell has guided the Mariners to their best season since severe sanctions derailed the program in 2015, when the team was forced to forfeit 50 victories and vacate a conference championship. The Mariners have not made the postseason since. That drought is now over.
A Program Built on Winning
The College of Marin carries a proud basketball tradition. The program established its winning pedigree in the 1930s, capturing a pair of California State Championships in the sport's earliest era at the college. Today's Mariners play their home games at Don Barksdale Court — named for one of COM's greatest players, a trailblazer whose legacy still looms large over Marin basketball. This season's team is proud to carry that tradition forward.
This Season's Standouts
The Mariners have been led by an exceptionally balanced and talented roster all season. Olivier Borgol has been the engine of everything, leading the team in scoring (19.1 ppg), rebounding (12.5 rpg), and field-goal percentage (52.7%). K'Hamani Olivacce has been equally dynamic as the team's second option, averaging 15.3 points per game while leading the Mariners in total assists (88) and shooting a sharp 42.7% from three-point range. Te'Shawn Gamble (12.5 ppg) and John Kingston Carmona (10.0 ppg) round out a deep scoring corps that has given opponents fits all year.
Building Toward the Future
Coach Russell isn't taking his foot off the gas. With the program back in the postseason for the first time in a decade, the coaching staff is actively recruiting to keep the momentum going into next year. The players are motivated, the energy in Kentfield is electric, and the foundation is being built for something lasting.
The Mariners are back — and they're just getting started.