BILLINGS, Mont. – The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team heads to their third-straight nonconference tournament on the road this week, as the Nooks are set to compete in the Montana State Billings Thanksgiving Tournament this Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24. The Nooks will face Blake Hills State University on Friday, Nov. 23 before taking on Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, Nov. 24. Both games will be played at the Alterowitz Gymnasium in Billings, with tip-off slated for 3:15pm AKST.
Following the tournament, the Nanooks will remain in Billings to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play against the MSUB Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Tip-off at the Alterowitz Gymnasium is scheduled for 5pm AKST.
MSUB Thanksgiving Tournament Information
Alaska vs. Montana State Billings – Tuesday, Nov. 27 – Game Information
MSUB Thanksgiving Tournament Schedule
Friday, Nov. 23
3:15pm AKST: Alaska vs. Black Hills State
5:30pm AKST: MSUB vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills
Saturday, Nov. 24
3:15pm AKST: Alaska vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills
5:30pm AKST: MSUB vs. Black Hills State
Where to Watch & Listen
Fans who can't make this weekend's games in Billings can catch Friday, Saturday and Tuesday's game live through the Alaska Nanooks Stretch Internet Portal in the link posted above. Fans have the option to watch the live stream, follow along with the live stats or both. Please be advised that when on the road, any live stream is produced by the home team, not the Alaska Nanooks Department of Athletics.
Last Time Out
The Alaska Nanooks split at the Seawolf Jamboree in Anchorage last weekend, falling 85-63 to the Lake Superior State Lakers on Friday before earning their first win of the season on Saturday against the Northwood Timberwolves, 84-79.
Kluting, Martin Named to Seawolf Jamboree All-Tournament Team
At the conclusion of the 2018 Seawolf Jamboree, junior forward
Michael Kluting and junior guard
Alex Martin were named to the All-Tournament Team. Throughout both games, Kluting shot 14-for-27 from the floor, 3-for-7 from three-point range and 7-for-10 from the free throw line to tally a combined 38 points. Kluting also chipped in 11 rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Martin registered 26 points over the weekend, shooting 10-for-18 from the field, 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and 2-for-6 from the free throw line, while also adding eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Alaska Ties
Although the Nanooks won't face them this weekend, Alaska men's basketball will take on their former head coach Mick Durham and former assistant coach Bobby Howard on Tuesday, Nov. 27 against the MSUB Yellowjackets. After seven seasons at the helm for the Nanooks, Durham resigned from UAF this summer before accepting the bench boss position at MSUB. Howard, who served as Durham's assistant for four years in Fairbanks, followed Durham to MSUB where he serves in the same capacity.
Leading the Nation
The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team currently leads all NCAA Division II programs in free throw attempts with 172. Furthermore, the Nanooks rank second in the nation in free throws made with 115. As a team, Alaska ranks within the top-30 nationally in four other statistical categories including three-point field percentage (10th), total three-point field goals-made (16th), total assists (12th) and total rebounds (16th).
All-Time Series
All-time against the Black Hills State Yellowjackets, Alaska is 1-0. The first and only meeting between the two programs resulted in a 68-60 win for the Nanooks at home on Nov. 20, 2014.
Against the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros, the Nanooks lead the all-time series 2-1. Alaska won their first meeting 93-86 on the road in the 1979-80 season and won their last meeting 81-73 in neutral territory on Nov. 10, 2015.
Alaska trails the all-time series against the MSUB Yellowjackets 28-40 with their first meeting being a 93-61 loss in neutral territory in the 1972-73 season. The Nanooks are currently riding a three-game winning streak against the Yellowjackets with their last meeting resulting in a 69-59 win on the road on Feb. 22.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team, follow @NanooksMBB on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks page on Facebook.
