Feb. 9, 2008
Box Score
FAIRBANKS, AK- It was a case of déjà vu all over again for the Nanooks in their rivalry with the Seawolves. After controlling much of the opening 20 minutes in the teams' contest in Anchorage on Jan. 12, Alaska did so again at the Patty Center tonight, only to see the lead dissipate in the second half, just as it did at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex last month. A cold streak midway through the second half cost the Blue and Gold, as the Seawolves shot 56 percent in the second frame to record a 67-53 victory and a season sweep of the Nanooks.
"This is the type of game that I like," head coach Clemon Johnson said afterwards. "The guys came out and gave the effort: they obviously understood what the rivalry was about as well. Tonight they understood what I am looking for from them. We came to play, but we just came up short."
For much of the game, it was the hot hand of Mladen Begojevic kept the home side in the contest. Despite being hobbled with a number of knee and leg injuries, the Serbian would hit six of his eight shots from behind the arc, including a perfect 3-for-3 in the second half: good for a game-high 25 points.
"The man is barely walking, but he shoots the heck out of the basketball, doesn't he?" Johnson said of Begojevic. "We just tried to get as many open looks as possible for him."
It was a tight-battle from the tip-off and the Alaska Nanooks came out with an upset in mind. Begojevic scored back-to-back treys to help Alaska erase an early deficit and take a 9-7 lead at 15:19. The Blue and Gold would maintain control for the majority of the half, although the Seawolves would catch the Nanooks at 15-15, after UAA's Jeremiah Trueman and McCade Olsen sank two free throws apiece.
Begojevic answered back with his third consecutive three-pointer and the Nanooks continued to hold the visitors at bay until Chris Bryant converted on two chances from the charity stripe to give the Seawolves the lead for just the second time in the half, which they would open up to a nine-point advantage before the intermission.
Alaska would trade blows with the Seawolves throughout the early stages of the second half. Bobby Pico, having an excellent game for the Nanooks, knocked down a three-point shot, before Atkins and Begojevic converted strong putbacks off of a pair of offensive rebounds. Carl Arts answered with an up-and-under reverse lay-up, and Bryant hit a long-range effort from a good four feet behind the three-point arc.
But an 18-7 run midway through the second half would spring Anchorage to a 22-point lead, and with just five minutes left to play, there was no way back for the Nanooks.
Olsen would finish the night with a team-high 19 points for the Seawolves, while Arts and Bryant would hit for 17 and 10 apiece.
For Alaska, junior Colin Matteson would get 10 points, shooting 2-of-3 from behind the arc. Sophomore Kevin Atkins would have a busy night as well, grabbing 12 rebounds to go with six points and two blocks.
The Nanooks now hit the road for two games next week against Central and Western Washington before returning to the Patty Center for contests with Seattle and Montana State Billings on Feb. 21 and Feb 23., respectively.
