Box Score ANCHORAGE – Ashton Edwards' desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer came agonizingly close for Alaska to win, but the bounce was not kind for the Nanooks who fell, 74-72 to instate rival Alaska Anchorage at the Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday night.
Alaska trailed by six points with three minutes to go, but was able to cut the lead to a single point with under thirty seconds to play. After two made free-throws, an Edwards jumper again cut the lead to one, this time with six seconds remaining. UAA missed the second free-throw meaning Edwards had to run the length of the court and heave a long-range effort that came inches away from giving the Nanooks the win.
The game overall was tight throughout, and though the Nanooks (5-13, 2-10 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) trailed throughout, they were always in the game and had a chance to win right at the end.
Four Nanooks scored in double-digits led by Edwards who had 18 points. He also contributed five assists, two rebounds and a steal. Almir Hadzisehovic had 16 points and eight rebounds, while Anthony Reese also had eight rebounds and scored 11 points. Eric Fongue contributed 12 points, all from the field, for Alaska.
Alaska Anchorage (13-9, 9-3 GNAC) was led by Travis Thompson, who scored 23 points and had seven assists.
The entire game was tense, as neither team was able to build an advantage greater than nine points. At halftime, the Nanooks trailed by just one point at 36-35. In both periods, the Seawolves edged the Nanooks by just one point to earn the two point victory.
Nothing separated the teams statistically either. UAA barely outrebounded Alaska, 33-31, but the Nanooks scored 16 more points in the paint than their counterparts, cancelling any advantage at the boards. Both teams kept control of the ball, as neither committed ten or more turnovers. That translated to higher percentages on the offensive side of the ball, as the rivals found their rhythm going to the basket.
Alaska shot 54.9% (28-51) from the field and 35% (7-20) from beyond the arc, led by Edwards who hit three 3-point field goals.
The Nanooks now return home, looking to end an eight game losing streak as they host Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings next weekend at the Patty Center.
