Jan. 6, 2007
Fairbanks, AK - The Alaska Nanooks got out of the gates quick in a 90-78 win over Seattle Pacific at the Patty Center Saturday night. Alaska (10-6 overall, 1-1 in the GNAC) rolled to a 13-1 lead in the first five minutes and then survived a determined SPU squad (8-5, 1-1).
The Nanooks used a balanced team attack in the win, as four players scored in double figures. Senior forward Jushay Rockett led the way with 20 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high six blocks to take home Toyota Player of the Game honors. Junior guard Kenny Barker had a fine all-around game with 19 points, six boards and four rebounds.
Alaska also got some unexpected production off the bench from junior Steve Sandles (Vallejo, CA) and freshman Jordan Hayter (Grants Pass, OR). Sandles scored a career-high 16 points in 18 minutes in just his fourth game as a Nanook, while Hayter notched eight of his 10 points in the first half.
After the Nanooks jumped to their early lead, the Falcons responded to pull within one point at 26-25 with 5:37 left in the first half. But consecutive shots by junior Mike Titus (Fairbanks, AK), Hayter and Tyrome Flowers (Tacoma, WA) put Alaska back up 32-25. The Nanooks would extend the lead to 44-34 by closing the half with a 6-0 run in the final minute.
Early in the second frame a Rob Will lay-up pulled the Seattle Pacific to within 51-47. But Sandles scored six points in a 10-0 Nanook run to build the largest lead of the game at 61-47.
SPU battled back to within five on two occasions in the final five minutes but Alaska answered with baskets each time. The Nanooks, who never trailed in the contest, made 8-of-10 free throws to secure the win.
Leading scorer Dustin Bremerman topped four double figure Falcons with 20 points, while freshman Rob Diederichs chipped in 13 points off the bench. Will and Marques Echols added 11 apiece.
Alaska, the GNAC's top rebounding team, dominated the boards 33-24 with help from Rockett. The senior had five offensive rebounds in a game where misses were rare for the Nanooks. Alaska shot a season-high 62.5 percent in the win.
The Nanooks will end a three-game homestand when Northwest Nazarene comes to town next week. The Crusaders and Nanooks will tip-off Jan. 11 at 7:00 p.m. AST in the Patty Center.
