ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Senior Travante Williams and junior Bangaly Kaba each posted a double-double on Friday night to lift the Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team to an 81-73 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills. The victory marks the first 3-0 start for Alaska under head coach Mick Durham.
Williams and Kaba combined to score 34 of Alaska's 81 points and grabbed 25 of the team's 44 rebounds, as they both pick up their first career double-double in a Nanook uniform. Williams, who was playing his first collegiate game in his hometown, gave the home crowd something to cheer for, as he collected 16 points and pulled down a career-best 15 rebounds. As for Kaba, the junior college transfer continues to begin his Alaska career with a bang, as he a set a new career-high in both points and rebounds, by scoring 18 points and collecting 10 caroms.
"They have been the two most consistent players for us this entire off season, and for them to get a double-double in the same game just speaks more to that," said Durham after the game. "Bangaly had a great overall game, he also added five assists on the night, and Travante had to battle through some foul trouble, but was still able to perform well. It was a good team win tonight, but those two really stood out."
Senior Ashton Edwards, who was getting his first start of the year, collected his second-straight 15-point outing. The All-GNAC preseason team selection hit 6-of-15 from the field and drilled a team-best three 3-point field goals in the victory. Fellow All-GNAC preseason selection, Joe Slocum, also posted his second consecutive double-digit scoring outing, as he chipped in 12 points.
The four double-digit scorers allowed the Nanooks to win their third-straight game, and give head coach Mick Durham his first 3-0 start at Alaska. It is the first time that an Alaska team has started the year 3-0 since the 2006-07 season, when that squad opened the year with a 4-0 mark.
"We're excited to get off to the good start, but one of the key things is that we've been able to pick up all three wins against West Regional opponents," stated the head man. "We've played in three really competitive games against some legit competition, and we've been able to battle and put up a good effort in all three contests. We have a short turnaround tomorrow, so we will see how our guys react to that, but it's nice to start 3-0 against three West Region teams."
After trading buckets during the first few minutes of the night, Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-2) took a nine-point lead at 28-19 after a Vincent Golson three-pointer. The Nanooks chipped away at the Toros advantage and took a one-point lead at 35-34, after a Williams put back. Alaska maintained its lead for the remainder of the half, as they hit their final three shot attempts of the frame to take a 42-37 lead into the break.
Alaska maintained its advantage over the first 10 minutes of the second half and took a 10-point lead at 62-52 after an Edwards three-pointer with 9:31 left in the game. It would be a short-lived advantage for the Nanooks, as CSUDH went on an 11-0 run to capture a 63-62 lead with 6:28 remaining in the game.
The next four and a half minutes featured three ties and five lead changes, before Kaba hit a runner on the baseline to give his team a 73-71 advantage with 1:56 left in the game. Kaba's shot would be followed with an Edwards' jumper on the opposite baseline just a few seconds later, as the pair of shots sparked an 11-2 run to end the game for the Nanooks.
Alaska will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, as they conclude the AT&T Seawolf Jamboree with a 1 p.m. contest against Life Pacific College.
For more information about the Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team, follow @NanooksMBB on Twitter.
