Box Score
BELLINGHAM, WA – Guard Morris Anderson scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the first half as nationally ranked Western Washington University defeated the University of Alaska, 87-71, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball contest Saturday on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
The Vikings, rated No.19 in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, improved to 16-2 overall and 3-1 in the GNAC and remained perfect in eight home contests, while the Nanooks dropped to 5-7 and still have yet to win in GNAC play.
The Vikings took control early in the contest, jumping to a 23-4 lead midway through the half while holding the Nanooks to just two field goals in their first 13 attempts.
Alaska used a 17-5 run over the next five minutes to close the gap to seven, 28-21, with 4:43 left in the period, but Western pushed the lead back to 14, 39-25, at halftime. The Vikings never led by less than 10 points in the second half.
Alaska was led by
Parrish West (Chicago, IL) who scored a game-high 27 points on 11-of-22 shooting while also pulling down six rebounds.
Nashorn Maynard (Saint Paul's, Saint Kitts) tied a career-high with 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting, pulling down six rebounds.
William Edwards (Fairbanks, AK) had a team-high eight rebounds off the bench in defeat.
Forward Derrick Webb had 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Western. Guard Harold McAllister added 11 points on 11-of-11 free-throw shooting, and forward Zach Bruce had 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Vikings had a 45-39 advantage in rebounds and committed only 11 turnovers to 14 for Alaska.
Alaska will return to the hardwood on Thursday to open up a three game home stand when they face Western Oregon. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.
