Box Score FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Senior guard
Ronnie Baker (Vallejo, Calif./Communication) scored a game-high 18 points and senior forward
Andrew Kelly (Gilbert, Ariz./Justice) pulled down a season-best 16 rebounds Thursday as the Alaska men's basketball team defeated Northland International University 84-66 at the Patty Center to close out their 2013 schedule.
Nine different players scored points for the Nanooks (5-4) and all 11 players who saw time in the game had at least one rebound. Baker shot 50 percent from the field (5 for 10) and was 8 for 9 from the free-throw line to lead all players. Kelly's 16 rebounds tied a career high from Feb.9, 2013 against Saint Martin's. He also chipped in nine points and dished three assists.
The win snapped the Nanooks' three-game losing streak and gave them a .500-or-better record in December (1-1) for the third straight season.
The Pioneers (4-12) were led by Josh Conover (16 points) and Anthony Lewis (12 points). Jordan Harrison was Northland International's top rebounder with seven boards, and Micah Baines was also in double figures with 11 points.
The Pioneers outshot the Nanooks in all three aspects – from the field (43.9 to 42.7 percent), from 3-point range (36.4 to 23.1 percent) and from the free-throw line (88.9 to 60.9 percent) – but a huge advantage in rebounding (53-28) put the Nanooks ahead.
Alaska outrebounded Northland International on the offensive end 24-3, which resulted in a 29-1 difference in second-chance points. The Nanooks also forced 14 turnovers and got 16 points in return.
Senior forward
Stefan Tica (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration) scored 15 points and senior center
Sergej Pucar (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration) posted 13 with seven rebounds. Redshirt sophomore forward
John Renfro saw his first playing time of the season and scored nine points with three rebounds in 12 minutes on the floor.
The Pioneers took an early 5-0 lead, but a 28-5 run gave the Nanooks their biggest lead of the half at 18 points and a 28-10 advantage. Alaska would lead 46-35 at the break.
That lead grew to as much as 19 in the second half thanks to an 8-0 run midway through. Baker had six points during the run, which lasted 3 minutes, 38 seconds.
Alaska takes a break through the holidays and next hosts Simon Fraser and No. 5 Western Washington on Jan. 2 and 4, 2014, at the Patty Center.
