ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team fell to their in-state rivals on Tuesday, Jan. 21 despite a strong offensive display from the Nanooks. This loss drops the 'Nooks to 6-11, 5-4 GNAC.

Alaska managed to hang close after the first half, trailing only by eight, but the Seawolves shooters heated up in the second half, pulling away and outscoring the 'Nooks 52-63 in the second half to grab an 86-105 victory.

Out of the gates, both the Alaska offense and Anchorage offense showed they were here to stay for the length of the game as the Nanooks shot 50% from the field and the Seawolves shot 46.9% from the field. The difference in the game was UAA's efficiency from beyond the arc. In the first half, Anchorage shot 41.2% compared to the 'Nooks 33.3%, allowing the Seawolves to jump out to an eight point lead at the half. Tyrus Hosley and Jack Macdonald both had 10 points at the break, leading the way for the Nanooks rivals. As for Alaska, Shadeed Shabazz led the way after one with 12 points.

Coming out of the locker room, the Seawolves turned the corner and extended their lead. Less than two minutes into the second half, the Nanooks found themselves down by 11. Just two more minutes in, they were battling a 15-point deficit. Macdonald for the Seawolves went on to shoot 5-6 from three-point range in the second half, putting up 15 in the half and 25 in the game. Shabazz and freshman guard, Marcus Lee led the attempted comeback in the second half for the 'Nooks as Shabazz collected 20 points and Lee added 12.

Unfortunately for Alaska, a spirited offensive battle could not match-up with the outside shooting by the Seawolves. As a team, the Nanooks out shot UAA, 54% to 51.7%, but the difference maker was the Seawolves 54.3% shooting from three and 19 made three pointers, 10 more than the Nanooks and almost as many as Alaska attempted.

Head coach Greg Sparling felt his guys shot the ball well enough to win most games, but UAA just managed to click from the outside, "WE just ran into a buzz saw tonight. This is some brutal travel for us, I believe we are in four different states and two different time zones in a period of two weeks. We shot a good enough percentage to win, but you give UAA credit, they shot the ball extremely well tonight and they're building. We need to go to Billings and get this next one done. It's not going to be easy, we just need to be focused and ready to go."

In the end, Shabazz ended the night with his third consecutive 30-point performance, scoring 32 points while shooting 58.3% from the field. He also added to his GNAC-leading steal total on the season by grabbing five more tonight. Lee ended the night with 14 points and Sweet joined the others with 12 points on 50% shooting. 

The Nanooks have four days to prep for their next matchup, Montana State Billings, which will be on Saturday, Jan. 25 in Billings, Mont.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team, follow @NanooksMBB on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks page on Facebook.