FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks used a late-rally to storm by the Western Oregon Wolves on senior day. They defeated WOU 89-83 to move to 8-14, 5-11 GNAC at the end of the regular-season.
In their home and regular-season finale, the Nanooks used five double-digit performances to pull off the comeback win. After moving ahead in the first, the 'Nooks fell behind before escaping with the six-point win. The first half was a shootout as the Nanooks shot 50% from the floor while the Wolves shot 53.3% from deep. WOU started with a 4-0 lead before Alaska came back to take the lead on a
Jahvonta Jones free-throw. The Nanooks pushed their lead to 10-4 before a media timeout. Their lead would grow again, this time to 19-10 before WOU pushed back to pull within five. A
Willie Thomas III jumper with 6:57 remaining in the half made it a 12-point cushion for Alaska.
After Alaska made it a 14-point game, the Wolves went on a run to make it a seven-point game at the end of the first half.
In the second, WOU grabbed the lead three and a half minutes into the second. After Alaska fell behind the Wolves ran with the lead for nearly 12 minutes. It was not until the 4:51 marker when
Shadeed Shabazz connected on a pair of free-throws to make it a 75-74 lead for the 'Nooks.
Coleman Sparling followed up with a jumper, making it a five-point lead for Alaska. WOU battled back to tie it at 81-81 but Thomas III connected again for an 83-81 lead. Shabazz went on to score the final six points of the game, including a stepback three from the corner to extend the lead to 86-81, closing the game out and giving Alaska the win on senior night.
Shabazz led the way with 30 points on eight field-goals, three three-pointers, 11 free-throws while grabbing six rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Coleman Sparling posted 17 points on 8-12 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.
Abdullahi Mohamed scored 14,
Jahvonta Jones scored 13 and
Willie Thomas III added 11, rounding out the solid scoring night for the Nanooks.
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.
