FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks fell to Northwest Nazarene in their home-opener for the 2021-22 season. The 77-69 loss drops the Nanooks to 3-7, 0-4 GNAC. 

In the first, the Nanooks trailed NNU 37-29 at the break. NNU opened up with a 7-3 lead, going on a 7-0 run following an Abdullahi Mohamed and-one to open the scoring. After stopping the run, Alaska fell behind 15-5 before making a run of their own. The 10-point deficit quickly became four on a Koby Huerta jumper followed by a pair of free throws by Coleman Sparling and another bucket from Huerta. The two teams traded buckets for the 10 minutes before Alaska made their attack. They quickly used back-to-back three balls from Tybenn Sturm and Huerta to tie the game at 27-27. A Mohamed jumper gave the 'Nooks the lead back at 29-27 with 2:47 left in the half. The momentum shift was quick, however, as NNU bounced back to push ahead to an eight-point lead at the break on a 10-2 run. 

Coming out of the locker room, NNU maintained momentum, stretching their eight-point lead to 10 at 15:07. After staying within striking distance, the Nanooks used back-to-back Willie Thomas III buckets and a free throw to pull within five. Two more buckets from Thomas III made it 53-50 NNU before Shadeed Shabazz got going offensively. Two free throws and a jumper kept the deficit at five and going into a media timeout, the Nanooks were starting to gain momentum back. Shabazz came out of the timeout and knocked down a three, making it a two-point game. Unfortunately, that was as close as the Nanooks would get. NNU pushed ahead, quickly making it a 71-61 game. A Quin Barnard three brought some life back to the Nanooks, but the Nighthawks' free-throw shooting down the stretch put the game out of reach. 

The Nanooks fell 77-69. Willie Thomas III ended the night with a team-high 18 points while adding nine rebounds, two blocks, two assists and two steals. Shadeed Shabazz had a solid second half, scoring 16 points on 5-10 shooting and 2-5 from deep. He added three steals and two assists. 

Alaska is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7:00 p.m. against the Central Washington Wildcats.  

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