Dec. 8, 2006
Fairbanks, AK - Augustana dropped the Alaska Nanooks 82-58 in the night cap of the Glacier Classic Friday night at the Patty Center. The Vikings (8-1) lived up to their billing as a sharp-shooting team by hitting over 50 percent of their field goals in the win over the Nanooks (6-5).
Augustana shot 57 percent from the floor including 7-of-16 from downtown. Senior guard Joey Ryan and reserve center Tom Verdouw paced a balanced attack with 14 points each for the Vikings. Senior forward Nick Olson added 12 points and 11 rebounds to help Augustana out-board the Nanooks 39-32.
Senior forward Jushay Rockett (Long Beach, CA) led Alaska with 14 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes before fouling out. Rockett had 11 first-half points to help the Nanooks stay within seven points at the break but the senior picked up two quick fouls in the first six minutes of the second to leave the Nanooks short their top scoring threat. Alaska shot just 26 percent in the second frame.
Junior guards Barry Barnes, Jr. (Long Beach, CA) and Mike Titus (Fairbanks, AK) each chipped in with 10 points in the loss.
In the early game, the University of Alaska Anchorage took out Florida Tech 78-60. The Seawolves (6-2) shot a scalding-hot 63 percent from the field in the second to outscore the Panthers (2-6) by 15 over the final 20 minutes.
UAA built a 29-17 lead early behind junior McCade Olsen's 16 points. But the Seawolves let Florida Tech close the half with 17-8 run and close within a possession at the half.
Olsen and Co. responded in the second half with a 14-2 run that essentially put the game out of reach for the Panthers. Olsen finished with 27 points and nine boards, while junior forward Carl Arts 14 points, six boards and four assists. Senior guard Buddy Bailey added 13 points off the bench and junior point Luke Cooper piled up 10 assists.
The teams flip-flop match-ups tomorrow at the Patty Center. UAA faces Augustana in the early game at 5:00 p.m. AST, while Alaska tackles Florida Tech at 7:00 p.m. AST.
