Box Score FAIRBANKS – Led by five players who scored in double-figures, the Alaska Nanooks earned a hard-fought overtime victory over Saint Martin's, 82-78, on Thursday night at the Patty Center.
Almir Hadzisehovic just missed out on a double-double as scored a team-high 20 points and had nine rebounds, while Anthony Reese nearly completed a triple-double with 10 points, a game and career-high 13 rebounds as well as a game and career-high eight assists.
Kyle Tomlinson hit four 3-pointers to score 16 points while Alex Duncan (14) and Ashton Edwards (11) also scored in double-figures. Duncan also contributed five assists, five rebounds and went a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Alaska improves to 7-18 overall and 4-13 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and has now won back-to-back home games. Saint Martin's falls to 6-21 overall and 3-14 in league play.
The game was tight throughout, with each team edging the other by a single point at the end of each half. Alaska led 35-34 at the end of the first half, but Saint Martin's outscored Alaska 36-35 including 5-0 in the last 1:34 to force overtime.
In the overtime period, however, the Nanooks would prevail, as Alaska would score all 12 of its points in overtime from the free-throw line, led by Duncan's four. Edwards and Tomlinson each went 2-of-2 in the extra frame while Reese would go 3-for-4.
"That was a good win for us and I was really proud of the guys in overtime," said head coach Mick Durham. "Throughout the whole game we felt like we had it, so to get the job done in overtime, especially after falling behind, was great."
Saint Martin's, who trailed the entire second half until it tied the game to force overtime, took its first lead since the opening period with back to back buckets following a Nanook turnover. From that point on, though, the Nanooks dominated, forcing SMU into fouls and then making their free-throws.
"I thought we defended well tonight," continued Durham. "They are like us, they have some tough guys to guard against and they are in every single game. We did a good job."
The Nanooks forced 13 turnovers leading to 12 points and only committed 11 fouls compared to 19 by the Saints. Perhaps the best defense the Nanooks played all game came at the end of regulation, when a turnover game Saint Martin's and inbounds play with a chance to win the game in the closing stages. Alaska defended well, and forced a desperation shot at the buzzer that was never in danger of going in, sending the game to overtime where it would take control.
"They have really good shooters and that's what got them back into the game," said Duncan. "But we knew that if we kept moving the ball around and playing solid defense, especially in overtime, that we would find a way to win."
Alaska will look to carry that momentum into its final game of the season, a showdown with GNAC-leading Western Oregon, for senior night on Saturday. Seniors Reese, Rashaad Allen and Eric Fongue will all be honored, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.
