University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska — It took an extra five minutes Thursday, but the Alaska men's basketball team was able to stretch its unbeaten 2013-14 home record to 7-0 with an 84-80 overtime win over Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Central Washington at the Patty Center.
 
The win was Alaska's (9-5, 4-2 GNAC) ninth in a row at home dating back to last season and extends their best home start in 11 years. The Nanooks held off the Wildcats (7-7, 3-3 GNAC), who came all the way back from a 13-point deficit in the second half to tie it at 71-71, and were within two at 82-80 with just 20 seconds to play in overtime.
 
Alaska went 2 for 4 from the free-throw line in the final 16 seconds of overtime, but key 3-pointer misses by CWU's Mark McLaughlin, Marc Rodgers and Jordan Russell kept the Wildcats at bay. Central Washington went a combined 1 for 10 from beyond the arc in the second half and overtime after going 4 for 9 in the first half.
 
McLaughlin, who led all players with 32 points, scored seven of Central Washington's nine points in overtime. His 3-pointer with 1 minute, 4 seconds to play made it 80-78, and his jumper off the glass with 20 seconds left made it 82-80.
 
Senior guard Ronnie Baker (Vallejo, Calif./Communication) was fouled with 16 seconds remaining after McLaughlin's jumper, but only made one of two free throws, making it 83-80 and giving the Wildcats a chance to tie it again. Central Washington tried to get the ball into the hands of McLaughlin, but the Nanooks double-teamed him, forcing Russell to take a shot from the left wing instead, which he missed long. Senior center Sergej Pucar (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration) grabbed the rebound and was fouled and sent to the line to seal the game with the last of his team-high 26 points.
 
The game may not have even gone into overtime had it not been for a crucial free-throw miss by Central Washington's J.B. Pillard with 26 seconds left in regulation. With Alaska leading by two, 71-69, and just 30 seconds left to play, Rodgers stole the ball from junior guard Joe Slocum (San Francisco/Communication) and passed ahead to Pillard, who got a fast-break layup to tie the game. Pillard was fouled by senior forward Stefan Tica (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration) in the process, giving him a chance for a go-ahead three-point play.
 
Pillard missed his free throw off the front rim to keep the game tied at 71-71 and hand the Nanooks a chance at a game-winning bucket. The ball was left in Slocum's hand as time ticked off in regulation. Slocum drove left and into two Central Washington defenders, tossing up a shot along the way, but no foul was called and the game headed to overtime.
 
Pucar went 12 for 15 from the charity stripe and was named Era Alaska Nanook of the Game for his efforts. He also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and had one block. Baker scored 18 despite only playing six minutes in the first half after getting into foul trouble. Senior forward Andrew Kelly (Gilbert, Ariz./Justice) tallied 12 and pulled down five rebounds.
 
Pillard notched a double-double for the Wildcats with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Kevin Davis poured in 10 points, four blocks and three steals. No other player had more than eight points for Central Washington, which outshot Alaska 48.4 to 47.4 percent.
 
Central Washington made its comeback push in the second half on the offensive glass. The Nanooks owned the offensive rebounding in the first half 7-1 and outscored CWU in second-chance points 7-2. But the Wildcats took control in the second half, grabbing 11 offensive boards to Alaska's two and dominating second-chance points 15-2.
 
The overtime game was Central Washington's second in a row and third this season after a double-OT win over Western Oregon Saturday. The Wildcats entered Thursday 2-0 on the year in extra periods.
 
It was Alaska's first extra-period game of the season and first since a 68-67 win at Saint Martin's on Feb. 9, 2013. The Nanooks have won four straight overtime games dating back to 2011-12, a streak that began with a 91-80 overtime win over Central Washington at the Patty Center on Dec. 31, 2011.
 
The Nanooks host Northwest Nazarene Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader with the Alaska women's basketball team. Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. The Crusaders lost 92-83 at Alaska Anchorage Thursday after leading by 16 in the first half.