FAIRBANKS - The Nanook men's basketball team hosts Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings this weekend at the Patty Center, looking to end its eight game losing streak. Thursday's Great Northwest Athletic Conference match against the Falcons is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. with Saturday's tilt against the Yellowjackets pegged for 1:00 p.m.
Date: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
Opponent: Seattle Pacific
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Watch Live: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/uaf/
Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/uaf/mbball/
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015
Opponent: Montana State Billings
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Watch Live:http://portal.stretchinternet.com/uaf/
Live Stats:http://sidearmstats.com/uaf/mbball/
Alaska lost in its last game against Alaska Anchorage, 74-72, when Ashton Edwards' last second three-pointer hit off the rim. Including that heartbreaking game, the Nanooks have not won in eight straight attempts, since they earned a 121-111 win over Simon Fraser on January 3.
Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific both defeated the Nanooks as part of the current eight game losing streak, as the Yellowjackets and Falcons both won at home against Alaska. On January 15, Alaska fell to MSUB by a score 83-78 in overtime.
Alaska took the lead in the closing seconds of the game, but a late foul at the buzzer, and one made Yellowjacket free-throw forced overtime, where MSUB outscored the Nanooks, 16-9 in the extra period.
The Nanooks were led offensively by Ashton Edwards and Almir Hadzisehovic, who scored 22 and 20 points, respectively. Edwards also had four assists as he played 40 minutes to also lead Alaska. Hadzisehovich went 9-13 from the field, had three assists and a block.
Despite a combined 34 points by the duo of Anthony Reese and Almir Hadzisehovic, the Nanook men fell to the Falcons two days later in Seattle.
Reese had 18 points to lead all scorers, as he shot 57.1% (8-14) from the field, had four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Hadzisehovic recorded 16 points, higher than any Seattle Pacific player and led the Nanooks with six rebounds.
Opponents Need to Know
The SPU defense is ranked No. 28 nationally, surrendering just 64.9 points per game. The 2013 squad established the school record in that category, limiting foes to 60.7 points. Falcons' foes are shooting 43.4 percent and just three of them reached the 50-percent plateau in a game this season.
Among conference leaders, MSUB ranks No. 2 in 3-point field goal percent defense, holding opponents to a mark of 35.3. The 'Jackets also rank highly in defensive rebound percentage, at 71.6 percent which is third-best in the GNAC.
Individually, Nelson's rebounding total of 5.7 ranks No. 9 in the conference, and Anderson ranks eighth in 3-point field-goal percentage (43.6).
