Box Score ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Alaskan men came up just short against Central Washington as they were on the losing end of a tight, 75-66, game at the Nicholson Pavilion on Saturday night.
Almir Hadzisehovic had the standout performance of the game for the Nanooks, as he had 23 points, including 16 in the first half, as he was strong inside, going 9-13 from the field and making five free-throws.
With the loss Alaska falls to 6-18 overall and 3-13 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference while the Wildcats improve to 16-7 on the season and 11-5 in the conference.
Ashton Edwards and Eric Fongue each scored in double-figures for Alaska as Edwards was second on the team with 12 points and Fongue came off the bench to contribute 10 points. Anthony Reese had 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals to go along with five points in what was also an impressive game.
Central Washington was led by Dom Williams, whose 27 points, six made 3-pointers and 10 field goals were all game-highs. In addition to Williams, Terry Dawn had a game-high 12 rebounds to go with six points for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats started the brighter of the two teams, and took an eight point lead early in the first half before the Nanooks came storming. Alaska took the lead at the nine minute mark and would extend that lead to as many as seven points three minutes later. From that point on, however, the game would see-saw back and forth with neither team able to take the upper hand.
At the end of 20 minutes, Alaska trailed by three at 44-41. Central Washington would not relinquish its lead in the second half, and would extend it to as many as 10 on two occasions. The Nanooks did their best to get back into the game, but CWU's offense did just enough to keep the visitors at bay.
Alaska returns home to close out its season with a pair of GNAC games against Saint Martin's and Western Oregon. Saturday's game against WOU will serve as Senior Night as the Nanooks will honor its three seniors in Reese, Fongue and Rashaad Allen.
