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FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Following a successful title run in the GCI Alaska Invitational, the Alaska men's basketball team travels to Bellingham, Wash., to compete in the 12th Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by Western Washington University.
The Nanooks (4-1), who were named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Team of the Week, will put their three-game winning streak on the line when they take on Southwest Baptist (1-4) Friday at 1:30 p.m. (AKST), followed by a 2 p.m. (AKST) match-up against Concordia (Minn.) on Saturday. Both games will be played at Carver Gymnasium on WWU's campus.
Last week, Alaska went 3-0 at home with wins over Cal State Monterey Bay (80-73), Oklahoma Panhandle State (77-54) and Colorado Christian (85-72) to capture the Alaska Invitational title for the first time in its four-year existence. It was also the first home tournament win for the Nanooks since they won the 2002 BP Top of the World Classic when they upset three Division I schools in consecutive days.
As a team, the 'Nooks averaged 80.7 points per game and won by an average of 14.3 points, including a 23-point win Friday over Oklahoma Panhandle State. They shot 47.4-percent from the floor and controlled the boards by an average of four rebounds per game. Alaska also dished out a combined 71 assists to their adversaries' 30 and made 12 blocks and 40 steals.
Junior
Pat Voeut (Bellingham, Wash./Communications) was named GNAC Player of Week after averaging 15.3 points and shooting 65.4 percent from the floor. He also contributed 6.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals on his way to being named tournament MVP.
Juniors
Sergej Pucar (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration) and
Stefan Tica (Belgrade, Serbia/Business and Finance) were tabbed to the All-Tournament team after the duo averaged 13.0 points apiece. Pucar also had 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals while Tica tallied 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in the three games.
Four players rank in the top-26 in GNAC scoring, led by Voeut's 14.0 points per game. Senior
Dominique Brinson (Juneau, Alaska/Accounting) is averaging 13.6 points, Tica is scoring 12.4 points and Pucar is at 11.8 per outing. Voeut also leads the league with 5.4 assists and is sixth with a .615 shooting percentage.
Pucar leads the team and ranks sixth in rebounding (7.8 rpg) while senior
Zach Ngawaka (Keysborough, Australia/History) isn't far back in eighth (7.2 rpg). Junior
Andrew Kelly (Gilbert, Ariz./Justice Studies, Law & Society) had 11 steals last week and ranks second in the GNAC with 2.4 per game.
Game #6: Southwest Baptist vs. Alaska – Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. (AKST)
Important Links: LIVE STATS
The Bearcats went 1-2 last week with road losses to Drury (44-73) and Missouri S&T (61-75) while downing Arkansas at Monticello (78-69) for their first win of the year.
Jaywuan Hills leads a balanced offensive attack with 11.6 points per game. Four other players are averaging between 7.6 and 8.8 points. The team is shooting 48.3-percent in the young season and are sharp from outside, converting on 46.4-percent of its tries.
Game #7: Concordia (Minn.) vs. Alaska – Saturday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. (AKST)
Important Links: LIVE STATS
The Golden Bears opened the season last weekend with a 79-70 loss at home to Clarke College.
Terez VanPelt scored 22 points while Cole Olstad had 21 points in the loss. Concordia shot less than 38-percent for the game while allowing Clarke to shoot over 49-percent. It also struggled from three, converting on less than 32-percent of its long-range tries while allowing a 46-percent shooting night for its opposition from downtown.
