FAIRBANKS – The Alaska men's basketball team is set to begin its regular season tonight as it hosts Black Hills State in its opening game of the GCI Alaska Invitational, tonight at the Patty Center.
Prior to the Nanooks and Yellow Jackets taking the court, the tournament's other two teams, Minnesota State Moorhead and West Alabama will be tipping off at 5:00 p.m.
Last weekend, Alaska split a pair of exhibition games against Trinity International. On Friday the Nanooks lost, 83-73, though three Nanooks recorded double-digit scoring figures, with Adam Griffin leading the way with 17 points. Eric Fongue scored 14 points while Almir Hadzisehovic contributed 10 points.
Then, on Saturday, Alaska bounced back against Trinity, as it won, 70-67. Ruben Silvas led all scorers with a game-high 16 points while Almir Hadzisehovic scored 13 points and had a game-high 10 rebounds to complete a double-double. Hadzishovic was also 5-5 from the free throw line.
The Nanooks are looking to win their third straight GCI Alaska Invitational, as the past two seasons Alaska has gone a combined 6-0 to win back-to-back tournaments. Last season, Alaska defeated the University of Mary, Emporia State and Fresno Pacific to take the title.
OPPONENTS
Black Hills State
Jeff Trumbauer enters his first season as the head coach for Black Hills State. Entering the season, he sits five wins shy of 100 career victories after compiling a 95-83 record at Jamestown College.
Myles Henry is the top-returning scorer from a year ago. In 26 games last season, Henry averaged 12.8 points per game.
The Yellow Jackets return three starters from a season ago: Myles Henry (12.8 ppg), Riley Ryan (8.7 ppg) and Brady Bisgaard (2.9 apg).
Black Hills State has six new faces on the roster including junior college transfers Nick Ongarato and Tate Hilgenkamp, a pair of Australians: Ryan Miller and Sergio Antelmi, along with freshmen Collin Smith and Ben Beauchamp.
Minnesota State Moorhead
The Dragons went 21-8 last season, won the NSIC North Division and hosted a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament game for the fourth consecutive season.
The Dragons will have 13 players on its roster this season, including 10 returning players from last season. MSUM will be led by senior Jordan Riewer, who was named to the All-NSIC second team and led the Dragons in assists last season with 72.
Minn. State Moorhead won its first two games of the regular season in convincing fashion. Last weekend, the Dragons beat NW Missouri State 75-66 and Fort Hays State 83-71.
West Alabama
The Tigers will look to build on its storied success a season ago when it earned its first appearance into the NCAA tournament since 1982 with an overall record of 17-11. The Tigers were picked to finish seventh in the upcoming season by league coaches.
The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team fell 93-76 to nationally ranked No. 9 Florida Southern College in the first game of the 2014-15 regular season on Saturday.
UWA then lost to Eckerd on Sunday, to start the season 0-2, as they competed in the in the Sunshine State/Gulf South Conference Challenge.
