PORTLAND, Oregon – The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team was knocked-off by the Concordia Cavaliers on Thursday, Feb. 27 despite three Nanooks scoring in double-digits. With this loss, the Nanooks fall to 11-17, 10-9 GNAC and enter the final day of the regular season needing one win to qualify for the playoffs. 
 
The 'Nooks got off to a slow offensive start in the opening 10 minutes, falling behind early 11-17 after a Cavaliers 2-7 run. While the 'Nooks began hitting their shots, behind freshman big-man, Mawich Kachjaani, Concordia seemed to have an answer to every small run produced by Alaska. In the final 6:56 of the first half, the Nanooks pulled within one point at five different times, however, were unable to grab a hold of any lead. The Cavaliers ended the half on a strong note, as Xavier Smith knocked down back-to-back three pointers in the final 27 seconds, including a buzzer-beater that put the Cavs up by seven going into the half. 
 
After the halftime break, the Nanooks came out slow again, scoring only five points in the first six minutes. It was not until the 12:31 marker that the Alaska offense found its stride, grabbing its first lead since the 15:46 marker in the first half with a Koby Huerta three-pointer making it 47-45. From that point on, it was game-on inside the LCEF Court Arena on the campus of Concordia. Alaska stretched their lead out to five behind 11-straight points from Shadeed Shabazz. Despite the strong second half from Shabazz, Smith of the Cavaliers was going shot-for-shot with him as he too knocked down three-straight shots, keeping CU within striking distance during the 'Nooks run. 
 
Unfortunately for the Nanooks, the final five minutes belonged to Concordia as after three lead changes, the Cavaliers pulled away and grabbed a 73-78 win over the Nanooks. On the night, Shabazz led the way for the Nanooks with 27 points, six rebounds and four steals. Just behind him was Huerta with 12 points while shooting 3-3 from beyond the arc. Mawich Kachjaani was the third and final Alaska player in double-digits, putting up 10 with six rebounds. 
 
Follow along on Saturday on the Alaska Nanooks Stretch Internet Portal and help the 'Nooks push past the Wolves and Wildcats as we look to make the GNAC Championships for the first time since 2015-16. 

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