HONOLULU, Hawaii - The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team dropped their season-opener at the GNAC/PacWest Crossover at Chaminade. The Swords grabbed the win, 65-77 over the Nanooks, dropping Alaska to 0-1, 0-0 GNAC to start the season. 

The Nanooks trailed after the first half, 29-33 after shooting 38.71% from the field. They shot only 16.67% from deep while Chaminade shot 53.85% from the field and 55.56% from behind the arc. In the second half, the Chaminade kept the momentum, pulling away for the win. The Swords shot 57.58% from the field in the second half while Alaska shot 35%. In the first half, Alaska put together the first points of the game as Abdullahi Mohamed made it 2-0. Less than four minutes into the game, the Nanooks had a seven-point lead, but Chaminade quickly rebounded, tying the game at 17-17. In the final five minutes, the Swords grabbed the lead and took a four-point lead into halftime at 29-33. 

Unfortunately for the Nanooks, their 24-23 lead with 8:47 remaining in the first would be their last. Chaminade pushed their lead to six only a minute and a half into the second half. On numerous occasions, Alaska pulled within two, but could not capitalize on the small deficit. They made it a two-point game with 6:48 remaining in regulation on a Koby Huerta jumper, but that would spell the end for the Nanooks as Chaminade would go on to win by 12, 65-77. 

Shadeed Shabazz led the way for Alaska, scoring 14 points in the season-opener. He added three rebounds and three steals. Quin Barnard and Koby Huerta were the only other Nanooks with double-digit points as both added 13. Huerta grabbed three rebounds and had two assists. Barnard hit a team-high three three-pointers in the loss. 

Alaska is back in action on Sunday, Nov. 14 at Chaminade where they'll take on Hawaii Pacific at 2:00 p.m. AKT. 

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