Box Score
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Southwest Baptist had four players score in double figures and shot 44-percent from long range as it was able to pick up an 81-68 men's basketball victory over Alaska at the 2011 GCI Alaska Invitational on Thursday night at the Patty Center.
Freshman guard Preston Guiot scored a game-high 19 points, while senior forwards Ryan Dougherty and Robson Memnon each tallied 18 points. Dougherty also netted six treys, matching Alaska's team total.
As a team, the Bearcats (3-0) were just shy of 51-percent (27-53 FG) from the floor and drained 11 of 25 from beyond the arc. They also went to the free throw line 22 times, sinking 16 attempts.
For the Nanooks (1-2), senior guard Jarrett Miller (North Pole, Alaska/West Hills CC) paced the offense with a team-high 14 points and freshman guard Ben Teer (Machias, Maine/Lee Academy) also scored in double figures with 10 points, respectively.
Alaska struggled from the field in the first half, shooting just 27-percent (10-37 FG), but improved in the second frame, making 50-percent (14-28 FG) of its shots. The team had trouble with its outside game, making just 25-percent (6-24 3PT) of its three-pointers. Both squads tied in rebounds with 35 each and committed 16 turnovers apiece.
After falling behind 13-7, the Nanooks went on a 7-0 run that spanned 1:04 to take a 14-13 lead with 13:20 to play in the first. The Bearcats responded with 17 of the game's next 19 points, due in large part to three long-range jumpers by Dougherty, to hold a comfortable 30-16 advantage with just over nine minutes to go in the half. They would take a 39-27 lead into the break.
SBU continued its three-point prowess in the second half, as it hit four in a row in about four minutes to take a commanding 65-43 lead with 9:11 to play. The Nanooks could not recover and never came within 12 points the rest of the way.
Alaska returns to action Friday at 5:15 p.m. when it takes on Tiffin on the second day of the tournament. SBU will play the first game of session two at 3 p.m. against Lindenwood, which won 88-84 against Tiffin earlier Thursday.
