University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Defense was the name of the game for the Alaska men's basketball team Thursday, as it earned its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory of the season by forcing 22 turnovers and holding visiting Simon Fraser to 39.2 percent shooting in a 67-58 win at the Patty Center.
 
The Nanooks (6-4, 1-1 GNAC) scored 22 points off turnovers and moved to 4-0 this season when holding opponents under 40 percent shooting. They also improved to 5-0 at home, extending their best home start in 11 years.
 
Simon Fraser's (7-4, 0-3 GNAC) Taylor Dunn led all players with 15 points. The Clan made 10 3-pointers on the night, including three in the game's first 2 minutes, 44 seconds, to take an early 9-2 lead. Simon Fraser's first four made baskets of the game were all 3-pointers, giving it a 12-6 advantage five minutes in.
 
Alaska had four players score in double figures, led by senior guard Ronnie Baker (Vallejo, Calif./Communication) and junior guard Joe Slocum (San Francisco/Communication), who scored 14 each. Slocum was named the Era Alaska Nanook of the Game for his efforts, which also included three assists, a rebound and a steal. Senior forward Andrew Kelly (Gilbert, Ariz./Justice) and senior center Sergej Pucar (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration) both had 12 points and pulled down eight and six rebounds, respectively.
 
Simon Fraser outrebounded the Nanooks 43-28, including a 31-19 advantage on the defensive end, and outshot them 39.2 to 33.3 percent. Alaska took care of the basketball, though, only turning it over seven times and taking care of business at the free-throw line with a 21 for 27 showing (77.8 percent). The Clan only made eight free throws – a difference of 13 points in a nine-point game.
 
Alaska overcame its early deficit with a 16-3 run, accentuated by a 3-pointer from senior forward Stefan Tica (Belgrade, Serbia/Business Administration). The Nanooks would never again surrender the lead during the game, though the Clan came within three points on two separate occasions.
 
Thursday was Tica's third straight game with at least two treys after going a combined 0 for 10 over a three-game stretch from Nov. 23-30. Seven of the run's 16 points came via free throws and the Nanooks took a 22-17 lead.
 
Baker scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half, as Simon Fraser actually outscored Alaska after halftime, 34-33. But it was a double-digit, 34-24 halftime lead that helped the Nanooks hold on for the win. Alaska has led at halftime in all six of its victories this season.
 
The Clan was knocking on the door late in the first half, pulling to within three with 5:04 to play before the break, but a 10-3 run pushed Alaska's lead to 10 and gave it momentum heading into the locker room. Junior guard Rashaad Allen (Fairfield, Calif./Justice) capped the run with a 3-pointer from the corner with only 3 seconds left.
 
Alaska will look to carry momentum from Thursday into Saturday's game and extend its undefeated home start against No. 15 Western Washington. The Vikings were 104-89 winners Thursday at No. 23 Alaska Anchorage. Saturday's game tips off at 3 p.m.