ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team earned their first win of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Northwood Timberwolves 84-79 in their final game of the Seawolf Jamboree at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The Nooks improve to 1-4 on the season, while Northwood falls to 1-3.
Coach's Comments
"I thought our guys did a nice job on the board today. When we needed guys to step up and make free throws at the end of the game, they did. Northwood is a very good and well-coached team. I thought
Michael Kluting had a nice game all-around and
Alex Martin really stepped up and made some big shots for us tonight. Joe took a charge at the end of the game was a complete difference-maker and I couldn't be more proud of how he played tonight." – Head coach
Greg Sparling said on Saturday.
#NookNotes
Saturday's win isn't only the first of the season for the Nanooks, it was also the first victory for first-year head coach
Greg Sparling and first-year associate head coach
Jesse Brown.
Inside the Box Score
- Alaska outshot their opponent 42-31 in the first half but remained in the lead at the conclusion of the game, despite being outscored 48-42 in the second half.
- The Nanooks shot 45.0 percent from the field (27-for-60), 47.1 percent from the beyond the arc (8-for-17), 71.0 percent from the free throw line (22-for-31).
- Alaska picked up 14 offensive and 24 defensive boards on Saturday, totaling 38 rebounds throughout the night.
- The Nooks tallied 20 assists against the Timberwolves, five steals and three blocks.
- Alaska earned 37 points from their bench, 30 points in the paint, 11 points off turnovers, 11 points off second chances and 10 points on fast-breaks.
Alaska Leaders
- Junior forward Michael Kluting and junior guard Alex Martin tied for a team-best 23 points against Northwood, a career-high for Martin.
- Kluting shot 8-for-15 from the floor, going 3-for-5 from three-point range, and 4-for-6 from the free throw line.
- Martin shot 9-for-14 from the field, going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 2-for-4 from the free throw line.
- Junior guard Jalon McCullough and junior guard Tymoryae Glover were the only other Alaska players to register double-digit points on Saturday, posting 13 and 12 points, respectively.
- McCullough led all players with six assists.
- Glover and Martin tied for a team-high five rebounds apiece.
Next Time Out
The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball will head to Billings, Montana next week, as they are set to compete in the MSUB Thanksgiving Tournament. Alaska will take on Black Hills State on Friday, Nov. 23 before facing the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros on Saturday, Nov. 24. Both games will take place at the Alterowitz Gymnasium with tip-off scheduled for 3:15pm AKST.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team, follow @NanooksMBB on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks page on Facebook.
