Box Score
FAIRBANKS, AK - Despite a career-high 24 points from senior forward
Nashorn Maynard (Saint Paul's, Saint Kitts) the Nanooks could not hold on in an 83-67 loss to Western Oregon on Thursday night at the Patty Center. The loss marks the fourth straight for the Nanooks as they remain winless in the conference.
A back and forth first half saw the Nanooks grab the early lead, 5-0, and held the Wolves scoreless for the first 2:10 of the game before Western Oregon quickly tied the game with five quick points in 47 seconds.
Alaska never got a lead bigger than four the rest of the half and saw the visiting Wolves run off a 14-0 run after Alaska built the four point lead and Western Oregon never looked back. The Wolves took a five point lead into the half while shooting 43% (14-of-33) and 55% (5-of-9) from the three-point line. Matt Schmidt scored a team-high 12 points at the half, going 4-of-7 from the field.
Alaska got 14 points from Maynard at the half and a game-high eight rebounds to keep Alaska in the contest.
Jon Moe (Granite Falls, Washington) also did his part by hitting 6-of-7 free throws and scoring 11 points at the half.
Coming out of the half the Nanooks were able to tie the ball game at 37 at the 17:42 mark of the second half. Alaska kept the deficit around six points before Western Oregon went on a 14-4 run to end the game.
Alaska was able to shoot 51% (15-of-29) from the field in the second half and ended the game shooting 44% (26-of-59). Alaska held the advantage in points in the paint (34-28) but could not overcome 17 turnovers that resulted in 21 Western Oregon points.
Maynard shot 11-of-16 from the field for a career-high 24 points and also pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out three assists.
William Edwards (Fairbanks, AK) nearly missed a triple-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Moe also finished with 11 points on the night, all in the first half.
Western Oregon shot 49% (29-of-59) from the field and was led by six players with eight points or more. Matt Schmidt led the Wolves with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Kolton Nelson (13), Kyle Long (11) and Blair Wheadon (10) also scored in double-figures in the win. Mike McLaughlin led Western Oregon with eight rebounds and Wheadon had eight assists.
Alaska will return to action on Saturday when they host Saint Martin's at the Patty Center. Tip is set for 3:15 p.m.
