FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Following its three-game road trip to Hawaii last week, the Alaska men's basketball team will complete its non-conference slate this weekend with a pair of neutral-site contests in the 2011 AT&T Alascom Jamboree at the Wells Fargo Sports Center in Anchorage, Alaska.
The Nanooks (1-7) take on Minot State (1-6) Friday and Portland Bible College (2-6) Saturday. Both games are set for a 5 p.m. tipoff.
“We need to go there with a defensive mindset,” head coach
Mick Durham said. “We were better defensively on this last road trip and we seemed to rise to the level of competition we played. We need to continue to get better and hopefully good things will happen. We need to get off skid that we're on.”
Alaska dropped all three games in Hawaii, falling at Hawaii Pacific (60-74), at then No. 3 BYU-Hawaii (65-66) and at Hawaii-Hilo (61-65). Sophomore forward
Stefan Tica (Belgrade, Serbia/Panola College) scored in double figures in all three contests, averaging 15.7 points per game, including a game-high 20 last Saturday vs. Hilo.
“Just the type of person Stefan is, he's pretty consistent in everything he does,” Durham said. “He comes to practice, academically he's solid, so I don't think it's any surprise he's the most consistent guy on the court. He did have a good weekend and seems to be finding his niche in the offense.”
Entering the trek to the tropics, UAF had given up 84.2 points per game, but the defensive effort improved vastly, allowing just 68.3 points over the weekend.
The Nanooks will be without senior guard
Jarrett Miller (North Pole, Alaska/West Hills CC), who was injured in the second half of Friday's loss to BYU-Hawaii with an undisclosed lower body injury. Miller will be evaluated by doctors and trainers for the foreseeable future and the timetable for his return is unknown at this time.
“It's very unfortunate and you get concerned for the team,” Durham said. “He's our captain and one of two seniors. He's our leading scorer and assist man and was really off to a great start. We have to push forward and keep moving in his absence.”
COACH DURHAM ON OPPONENTS:
“Minot State is similar to us record-wise. They have a brand new team with about two players back. This might be a team is as young as we are. They're going to rely on their veteran guys with the players that played for them last year. It's definitely a team I think we can defend against.”
“Portland Bible College is really small, pretty much eight, nine guards that are 5-11 to 6-1, so that presents its own challenges. We have to take away the threes.”
GAME 1: Alaska (Game Notes) vs. Minot State
When: Friday, December 2 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Anchorage Alaska (Wells Fargo Sports Center)
Live Stats
Live Audio
About Minot State: Located in Minot, N.D., Minot State University was founded in 1913 and has an enrollment of 3,642 students. The Beavers enter Thursday's matchup against Alaska Anchorage with a record of 1-6. MSU defeated the University of Mary, while dropping games to Colorado Mesa, Dixie State College of Utah, Upper Iowa, Winona State, Bemidji State and Southwest Minnesota State. Three players average double figures, led by Josh Johnson, who is scoring 18.5 points in four games and bringing down 8.3 rebounds per game.
Conference Affiliation: It is a NCAA Division II Provisional team this season and will be an independent with no conference affiliation.
Coach: Peter Stewart (North Dakota '89) enters his second season at the helm of the Minot State men's basketball program. Last season, he led the Beavers to a 13-17 record. His all-time head coaching mark is 140-115 in nine seasons.
GAME 2: Alaska (Game Notes) vs. Portland Bible College
When: Saturday, December 3 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Anchorage Alaska (Wells Fargo Sports Center)
Live Stats
Live Audio
About Portland Bible College: Located in Portland, Ore., Portland Bible College was founded in 1967 and has an enrollment of 220 students. The Wildcats are 2-6 this season with wins against Quest College (BCCAA) and Northwest Indian College (Independent) while losing to Mutnomah (NCCAA 2), Montana State Northern (NAIA 1), University of Puget Sound twice (NCAA 3), Pacific Lutheran (NCAA 3) and Concordia (NAIA 2).
Conference Affiliation: Member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. Other members include: Arizona Christian, La Sierra, Multnomah, New Hope Christian College, Walla Walla and West Coast Baptist College.
Coach: Eivind Schweiss (Concordia '99) is in his fifth season as head coach of the program he began. In the first season in the ACCA he led the Wildcats to a national championship. The following season, they went 29-7 and finished fourth in the ACCA. They transitioned to the NCCAA Division II a few years ago and are back-to-back PCAC champions.
