Box Score FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanook men's basketball team suffered its first defeat of the season, in a 65-58 loss to West Alabama on Friday night in its second game of the GCI Alaska Invitational.
The loss marks the first in eight GCI Alaska Invitational games for Alaska (1-1).
Ruben Silvas Postgame
Ruben Silvas and Ashton Edwards each scored in double figures for the Nanooks as they contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The Tigers had four in double-figures as Justin Wright (15), Jarell Byrd (11), Kenric McCants (10), and Terrance Carroll (10) all had big days offensively.
Both teams struggled to get anything going offensively in the first half, as the Nanooks shot 28.6% (8-28) from the field in the opening period while the Tigers went 8-29 (27.6%) in the half, as they entered the break with a 25-22 lead.
Both teams found more of a grove in the second, with the Nanooks shooting 41.4% (12-29) including 6-18 (33.3%) from beyond the arc in the second. However, West Alabama upped their game inside as they shot 51.7% (15-29) from the floor and only hit three three-pointers.
The Nanooks tied the game at the 8:46 mark of the second half, after trailing for most of the period, when Eric Fongue scored his only points of the night with a three-point field goal. Unfortunately, the Tigers would score the next bucket to establish a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
Alaska will have the opportunity to bounce-back quickly, as they take on Minnesota State Moorhead in the GCI Alaska Invitational finale. The Dragons, who defeated Black Hills State earlier tonight, are the tournaments' sole undefeated team (2-0).
