FAIRBANKS, AK - Senior forward
Andrew Smith (Anchorage, AK/Bartlett HS) had two blocks to eclipse
Jason Williams (2001-03) and break the University of Alaska Fairbanks all-time career blocks record as the Nanooks captured a 71-56 victory over Western Oregon University Thursday night at the Patty Center.
Sophomore
Chris Jordan (Houston, TX/Milby HS) led all scorers with 19 points as the Nanooks improved to 11-5 overall and 4-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Wolves, losers of five straight, fall to 6-9 overall and 1-5 in the GNAC.
Trailing by two points near the mid-way point of the first half, UAF reeled off a 16-0 scoring run to turn a 14-12 deficit into a 28-14 lead. A three-pointer by Jordan broke a 14-14 tie and gave the Nanooks the lead for good, and capped off the scoring run with his second three of the half. UAF went into the locker room at the break with a 31-20 lead having shot 50 percent from the field (12-24), while holding their opponents to 35 percent shooting (7-20).
The UAF athletic department recognized men's basketball great,
Milo Griffin (1965-69) during a halftime ceremony in which his number 44 was retired, never to be worn again. Griffin is the second all-time leading scorer in UAF history with 1,682 points and maintains the single-game record with 43 points scored against Saint Martin's on Feb. 3, 1968.
Western Oregon would chip away in the early stages of the second half, cutting UAF's lead to seven points twice. The Nanooks responded with a 9-2 scoring run and took their largest lead of the game to that point at 47-32.
During the scoring run, Smith atoned for four of the nine points and at the 10:04 mark of the second half rejected a shot attempt by WOU's Garrett Johnson to tie Williams for the all-time record with 91 career blocks.
After a three-pointer by the Wolves Kevin Tyner, Smith again responded with a slam dunk at 8:38 and one minute later broke the block record with an empathic swat of a shot attempt by Travis Kuhns to surpass Williams and set the new record with his 92nd career block.
Senior
Justin Bourne (Fairbanks, AK/Lathrop HS) had a strong performance for the Nanooks, checking in with double-figures for the third time this season, with 12 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a season-high four steals.
Smith and sophomore
Kenny Barker (San Diego, CA/Clairemont HS) each finished the game with 11 points apiece. Barker also had a team-high six rebounds.
For Western Oregon, Tyner had a team-high 18 points, 11 of which came from the free throw line. Junior J.T. Mitchell had 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds and junior Larry Hall chipped in with 10 points.
Alaska Fairbanks returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 21 when they host Humboldt State University in the second game of a basketball double-header at the Patty Center. The UAF women's team will host Saint Martin's University at 2:00 p.m., immediately followed by the men's game at 4:00 p.m.
Notes:
* The Nanooks won the battle of the boards, out rebounding the Wolves 30-27 and improved to 11-1 when out rebounding their opponent.
* UAF has joined NCAA Basketball and will present the Take a Kid to the Game program (TAKG) on Saturday, Jan. 21. All kids 14 and under will receive free admission when accompanied by an adult. In its 11 year with college basketball, the TAKG program is a nationwide, grassroots initiative that encourages adults to take children to see collegiate basketball games.
- UAF BASKETBALL -
