University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

FAIRBANKS, Alaska —The Alaska men's basketball team officially begins its 2013-14 season this weekend on the road at the AT&T Jamboree in Anchorage. There, the Nanooks will face Regis University and Holy Names University.
 
It is the third season in a row that the Nanooks (0-0) have begun their season on the road at a tournament. In 2011-12 the team traveled to Chico, Calif., for the Chico State Invitational. This is the second consecutive season the Nanooks begin their year in Anchorage after taking part in the 2012 AT&T Jamboree last season.
 
Alaska opens tournament play against Regis at 5 p.m. Friday, then closes with Holy Names at 1 p.m. Saturday. It will be just the second all-time meeting between Alaska and Regis, with the Rangers holding a 1-0 series advantage. It will be the first meeting between Holy Names University and Alaska. The Hawks are in year two of the three-year process for transitioning to the NCAA Division II level.
 
The Nanooks have had three unofficial games to prepare for their season-opener. They traveled north to Barrow to face Post University in a scrimmage on Oct. 30, then hosted Northwest Indian College for back-to-back exhibitions on Friday and Saturday. Alaska won the first matchup against the Eagles 102-72 but dropped Saturday's game 94-82.
 
The Nanooks feature four of their top six scorers from last season, including two starters – senior center Sergej Pucar (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration) and senior guard Ronnie Baker (Vallejo, Calif./Communication).
 
Pucar was a second team all-conference selection in 2012-13 and was a unanimous Preseason All-GNAC Team honoree this year after averaging 10.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. He also blocked 23 shots and was a threat from outside, making 33 of 78 three-pointers.
 
Baker netted 8.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and also ranked 10th in the conference in steals, averaging 1.3.
 
Senior forward Andrew Kelly (Gilbert, Ariz./Justice) was the team's go-to player during both exhibition games against Northwest Indian College. He had a double-double Friday with game highs of 19 points and 16 rebounds in the team's 30-point exhibition win. He followed up with another double-double Saturday, pouring in 17 points and pulling down 10 boards.
 
Redshirt senior forward Stefan Tica (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration) and senior forward Dallen Bills (Inkom, Idaho/Psychology) are also back after coming off the bench to make significant contributions a year ago.
 
Game #1: Alaska vs. Regis – Friday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. (AKST)
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The Rangers (0-0) open their season Friday against the Nanooks after playing two exhibitions against NCAA Division I teams earlier this month. Regis fell at Colorado State on Nov. 2 by one point, 70-69, in an exhibition before beating Air Force on the road 70-65 on Nov. 3. The team went 9-16 overall and 8-14 in the RMAC last season.
 
Regis returns four starters from a year ago including Third Team All-RMAC performer in point guard Keven Marshall.  He was second on the team in scoring at 11.4 and led the team with a 3.5 assist average.  Jarrett Green comes off a season in which he led the Rangers with a 12.1 scoring average and connected on a team best 40.2 percent from long range.
 
Game #2: Alaska vs. Holy Names – Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. (AKST)
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The Hawks (0-1) opened their season Saturday with a 75-43 defeat at Chico State. They also played NCAA Division I member UC Davis Monday in an exhibition, falling 80-54. Holy Names was chosen to finish last in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Yasin Vernaza led the Hawks in scoring against Chico State with nine points. Harold Perry Jr. was HNU's leading rebounder, pulling down six boards in the loss.