FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team was defeated by the Western Washington Vikings, 63-71. This loss brings the team to 5-9 overall and 4-2 in GNAC play.
 
The Nanooks game against WWU was a battle of defenses. Both teams had to work for every basket and uncontested looks were few and far in between. One of those open looks came at the very first shot, as Quinn Daugharty hit a three-pointer to start the scoring off for the team. After this the Vikings would score and hold a narrow lead until the around the 14-minute mark when Alex Sommerfield hit a three to give Alaska back the lead. The two teams would then continue trading the lead back and forth, until an electrifying dunk from Mawich Kachjaani at the 7:48 mark gave the 'Nooks the boost they needed to ramp up the intensity on both ends of the floor and finish off the half strong. The team found themselves up 34-29 at the half, holding Western Washington to 33.3% from the field and 12.5% from deep.
 
The Nanooks would come out of the half and hold on to the lead all the way until the 6:41 mark, when the Vikings hit a three-pointer to tie the game up at, 53-53. From here on out, Alaska lost their way offensively, and WWU capitalized with a 12-6 run to put them up 6, 65-59, with 1:06 remaining in the game. The 'Nooks fought hard but couldn't score down the stretch and the Vikings walked out of Alaska Airlines Court with a comeback victory, 71-63. Shadeed Shabazz led the Alaska in scoring with 21 points, going 6-21 from the field, 0-8 from deep and 9-11 at the free throw line. Behind him, Spencer Sweet had 14 points on 50% shooting from the field and 100% at the free throw line. Alex Sommerfield led in rebounds and flirted with a double-double with 10 boards and seven points.
 
The team ended the night going 24-59 from the field, 3-15 from behind-the-arc and 12-15 from the free-throw line.
 
The team will be on the road next week, first heading to Nampa, Idaho to take on Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday Jan. 16, then heading to Ellensburg, Washington to face Central Washington University on Saturday, Jan 18.
 
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team, follow @NanooksMBB on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Men's Basketball team page on Facebook.