Nov. 16, 2006
Box Score
The Alaska Nanooks came back from a 10-point deficit to send the game into overtime but Weber State recovered for a 71-66 win in game one of the BP Top of the World Classic Thursday night at the Carlson Center. Junior guard Dezmon Harris scored the first four points in the extra frame and the Wildcats outscored Alaska 11-3 before Barry Barnes, Jr. (Long Beach, CA) hit a three-pointer at the final buzzer.
Weber, who had four players in double figures, was led by senior center David Patten's 14 points and five rebounds. Harris finished with 13 points and four assists, while sophomore guard Daviin Davis added 13 points for the winners.
Senior forward Jushay Rockett (Long Beach, CA) finished with game-highs of 32 points, nine rebounds and four steals for Alaska. Rockett's performance is the highest scoring game by Nanook in the 11-year history of the TOWC, beating out Bogdan Popescu's 27-point effort in 2000. Sophomore Colin Matteson (Lynnwood, WA) scored a career-high 11 points, while Barnes chipped in 10.
The Nanooks, who trailed 7-0 just three minutes into the game, led at the half 33-30 behind 18 points from Rockett. Alaska held a seven-point lead with 1:51 to go in the half before Patten made back-to-back lay-ups to trim the margin.
Alaska and Weber battled back and forth for the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Nanooks held a 47-46 lead with 11:19 left before the Wildcats went on a five-minute long 12-1 run. Davis had four points in the burst that made the score 58-48.
A Matteson three started the 12-2 Nanook run that would send the game into OT and his jumper with 1:01 left tied the game 60-60. Alaska forced a turnover and set up for the final shot but Barnes' double clutch jumper missed with 3.5 seconds left. After a Weber timeout, a leaner at the buzzer by Harris bounced off the front of the rim.
The Nanooks, who have just nine players total, had three players play over 40 minutes, while no Wildcat logged more than 27. Harris and Davis helped the Wildcat bench outscore the Nanooks 40-3.
The Nanooks will now face the loser of the Rhode Island-Troy game at 5:30 p.m. AST on Nov. 18 at the Carlson Center, while Weber State will meet the winner of the Rams- Trojans match-up at 12:00 p.m. AST.
