MONMOUTH, Ore. -- The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team fell just short of picking up its second upset of a Top 10 team on the road this season, as No. 8 Western Oregon hit a game-sealing 3-point field goal with 17 seconds remaining to hand the Nooks a 64-59 defeat.
The loss drops Alaska's record to 13-5 on the year. The Nanooks now move into a tie for third place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with idle Seattle Pacific, as both teams are 7-3 through 10 league games. The No. 8-ranked Wolves maintain their first-place tie with Alaska Anchorage, as WOU moves to 16-2 overall and 9-1 in the GNAC.
"We had a really good start, but they had a stretch of three's late in the first half that gave them some separation," said head coach Mick Durham. "We responded well in the second half. Our defense was solid, we allowed them to score just 26 points in the second frame, which allowed us to get back into the game. Avgi hit a big three to seal it for them, but I'm proud of the way we battled back. This was a tough defensive game, and both teams played really well on that side of the ball tonight."
Alaska got a team-best 16-point performance from senior Travante Williams. It is Williams' eighth-straight double-digit scoring effort, which marks a season-long streak for the Anchorage, Alaska native. Williams was a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line on Saturday, as he helped his team shoot an even 80 percent (12-of-15) from the charity stripe.
Junior Brandon Davis was one point off of Williams' pace, as he picked up 15 points. Senior Almir Hadzisehovic was the only other Nook to score double-figures, as he tallied 10 points.
Alaska's defense limited the high-scoring Western Oregon offense to a season-low 64 points against NCAA Division II teams. The Nooks pesky defense held WOU to just 33.9 percent from the field, and turned over the Wolves 13 times.
The Nanooks once again dominated inside the paint, as they outscored the No. 8-ranked team in the nation, 28-12, down low. The two teams each grabbed 39 rebounds, but it would be Alaska grabbing 11 offensive caroms, which led to 15 second chance points.
The Nooks battled back from a 16-point second half deficit to pull within three points at 52-49, with 5:22 remaining after a Joe Slocum layup. Western Oregon kept the Nanooks at bay down the stretch, as they seemingly found an answer to ever Nooks basket.
A WOU turnover with gave Alaska the ball down three, 59-56, with 1:27 left on the clock. The Nanooks would be unable to capitalize on the Wolves miscue, as WOU poked the ball loose and forced an Alaska turnover with 1:22 remaining. GNAC Preseason Player of the Year, Andy Avgi, would hit a 3-point dagger with 17 seconds remaining to give his team a 62-56 advantage.
Davis would go down and hit a trifecta of his own on the next possession to pull his team within three. Western Oregon would go 2-for-2 at the free throw line on their next possession to go up by five points. Alaska missed its final 3-point attempt, as WOU secured the rebound and let time expire.
Alaska returns to action next Thursday, Jan. 28, as they play host to Seattle Pacific. Tip-off from the Alaska Airlines Court is set for 7 p.m.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team, follow @NanooksMBB on Twitter.
