Box Score NAMPA, Idaho – Alex Duncan led all plays and scored a season and career-high 18 points, but it was not enough as the Alaska Nanooks fell, 67-56 to Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe, Northwest Nazarene on Thursday night.
Duncan scored ten of his 18 points in the second half as the Nanooks tried to spark a comeback, but it was not to be as the Crusaders did just enough to keep Alaska at bay. The guard also grabbed three rebounds and had a team-high three steals.
With the loss Alaska slips to 6-17 overall and 3-12 in the GNAC while the Crusaders improve to 11-14 on the year and 9-6 in the conference.
Eric Fongue hit three 3-pointers to 11 points and Almir Hadzisehovic scored ten points to also feature in double figures. The big forward also hauled in a team-best eight rebounds. Anthony Reese just missed scoring in double digits as he had nine points.
Northwest Nazarene was led by Erik Kinney, who scored 17 points to lead four players in double figures. Bouna N'Diaye contributed 12 points while Kevin Rima and Alex Birketoft had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The game started cagey, with Alaska falling behind early but tying the game three minutes in. Unfortunately from that point on the Crusaders would take a lead they would not relinquish as they pulled away as the half went on.
Northwest Nazarene led by eight at the break, 35-27 thanks in part to four 3-pointers.
In the second half, Alaska would fall further behind quickly before starting a comeback where it cut the lead to as few as six. However, the Nanooks could not find a way over that hump as Northwest Nazarene would pull away again later in the half.
Alaska will look to return to winning ways immediately, as it travels to Central Washington to take on the Wildcats on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. AKT.
