Box Score
FAIRBANKS, AK - Despite a career-high 29 points from junior forward
Nashorn Maynard (Saint Paul's, Saint Kitts) the Alaska Nanooks could not snap their four game losing streak in an 89-77 loss to Central Washington on Thursday night at the Patty Center. The loss drops the Nanooks to 6-13 overall and 1-9 in the GNAC.
Alaska again started the game with good defense and held the Wildcats without a basket for the first 2:52 of the half after Alaska scored the first four. Central Washington then went on to score six more points after their initial basket to gain the early 8-4 lead.
The Wildcats stretched their lead to eight after a Shane Miller three-pointer with 11 minutes left in the first half. Alaska battled back to bring the game back within four, 18-14 before the Wildcats ran off a 12-1 run over the next 4:02 to double-up the Nanooks 30-15.
Alaska got back on its feet to score two of the next three baskets to cut the lead to 13 before the Wildcats went on another 7-0 run, to extend their lead to 20 points, the most by either team of the half.
Down, but not out, Alaska made one final run to end the half and scored the last eight points, which was highlighted by a Maynard three-point play and a
William Edwards (Fairbanks, AK) three-pointer to go into the locker room only down by 12, 39-27.
Alaska went into the break shooting only 32% (9-of-28) from the field, but held a decisive 26-17 rebounding edge, which included 12 offensive rebounds. Maynard led the way for the Nanooks at the half way point with nine points and six rebounds.
Joe Powell also pulled down six rebounds, four offensive.
Central Washington was led by Shane Miller with 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting while JC Cook chipped in nine points on 4-of-7 shooting.
The Nanooks opened up the second half and cut the Wildcat lead to only eight, but it would be the closest the Nanooks would get the rest of the night.
After the early Alaska run Central Washington went on an 8-1 run of to push the lead to 15 and take control of the game. The Wildcats pushed their lead to 20 points on a Coby Gibler lay up at the midpoint of the second half.
Alaska made one last gasp effort to get back into the game with a little over three minutes left. After Central Washington took a 75-55 lead the Nanooks ran off a stretch where they scored 15 of the next 19 points to make it a 10 point contest. The Wildcats answered right back with a 7-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Maynard finished the game with a career-high 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting while going 9-of-10 from the field. Maynard also picked up 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.
Emmanuel Jenkins (Tacoma, WA) was the only other Nanook in double-figures with 16 points.
Central Washington ended the game shooting 48% (26-of-54) from the field and were led by Shane Miller who scored 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, also hitting 11-of-12 from the charity stripe. JC Cook contributed 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting as Central Washington improved to 13-7 overall and 7-3 in the GNAC.
Alaska will return to action on Saturday when they welcome Western Washington to the Patty Center. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. AKT.
