University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

Box Score HILO, Hawaii — Hawaii Hilo exacted some late-game revenge Tuesday against Alaska, turning the tables from Monday's game by taking the lead late and dodging a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer to escape with a 60-58 win and hand the Nanooks their first loss of the season.
 
Hawaii Hilo's (1-1) Jordan Kealoha was fouled by freshman forward Jordan Wilson (Henderson, Colo./Business Administration) with just four seconds left on the clock and went to the free throw line with the game tied 58-58. She converted both chances to give the Vulcans a 60-58 lead, even though her team shot 64.7 percent in the game from the charity stripe.
 
Junior guard Benissa Bulaya (Sacramento, Calif./Communications) carried the ball coast-to-coast for the Nanooks (4-1) on their final possession of the game as the clock ticked towards zeros. She got a look at an open layup to even the score as time expired, but her shot rolled around the rim and out, giving Hawaii Hilo the victory.
 
Wilson led all players with 18 points and 11 rebounds -- her second career double-double and first since Alaska's season-opener on Nov. 8 against Western New Mexico. Kealoha and CC Rode scored 12 points apiece for the Vulcans. McKenzie Mangino pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds and scored seven points for UHH.

The game was decided by free throw shooting, though both teams struggled from the line. The last 13 points scored were all free throws. Alaska shot 66.7 percent (24 for 36) from the line, but went 5 for 6 after the game's final media timeout at 3:50 left to play. The Vulcans were slightly better in the clutch free-throw shooting category, going 8 for 10 in the game's final 4:06, including a perfect 6 for 6 in the last 74 seconds.
 
Wilson was faced with two potential game-tying free throws late in the contest for the second straight night, and she converted again. With the Nanooks trailing 58-56 and only 35 seconds to play, Wilson was fouled and sent to the line for two, which she would convert.

The game had a thrilling ending because for the second day in a row the Nanooks engineered a second half comeback after trailing at the break. The margin was much larger this time, with the Vulcans leading by 12 at 33-21. Hawaii Hilo pushed it to 14 – its largest lead of the game – two minutes into the second half, but a 16-2 run started and ended on buckets from junior guard Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Journalism) knotted it up for just the second time all game, and first time since it was 5-5 three minutes in.
 
The Vulcans turned it over eight times during the Nanooks' big run, which lasted for 5:54 and made it a new ball game with more than 10 minutes to play. Hawaii Hilo also only attempted three shots during the run and went 0 for 1 from the free throw line, allowing Alaska back into the game after holding them to 25 percent shooting in the first half.
 
Hawaii Hilo shot 25 percent themselves in the second half. Both teams finished below 35 percent shooting for the game, with Hawaii Hilo shooting 33.3 percent and Alaska posting a season-low 29.8 percent.
 
Alaska takes a break this weekend before hosting their annual Thanksgiving tournament on Nov. 28-30. The 2013 Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational will feature Dominican (Calif.) University, Lees-McRae and Wayne State College.