FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team grabbed a two-point win over the Western Washington Vikings on Saturday, Jan. 14. With the win, the Nanooks improved to 7-8, 2-5 GNAC and dropped the Vikings to 10-7, 3-4 GNAC.

WWU held a one-point lead at the break despite making four less field goals and shooting 42.8% compared to the Nanooks 45.7%. In the second-half, the 'Nooks came out and shot 51.7% and held WWU to 35.1% from the floor; they outscored the Vikings 40-37 in the second and grabbed the 75-73 home-court victory. Alaska opened the game up with a quick six points, making it 6-0 on a Bryan Nguyen jumper. After WWU ended the run, the Nanooks added to it, stretching it to an 11-2 lead on a Tyler Mrus three and Nick Hopkins layup. Western found some momentum and rallied to tie the game at 15-15 at the 10:36 mark before taking a 17-15 lead on a BJ Kolly jumper. The two sides traded buckets before Mawich Kachjaani made it a four-point lead at 25-21. 

After a 31-31 tie at the 2:10 mark, Western grabbed a lead at 34-33 and held the one-point lead into halftime break on a Demarcus Hall-Scriven layup making it 36-35. 

Out of the break, Jaycson Bereal, Jr. packed home an alley-oop from Bryan Nguyen to give the 'Nooks a 37-36 lead. Their lead quickly grew to five at the 14:04 mark on another Hopkins layup. A Mawich Kachjaani layup grew it to six at 57-51 and Abdullahi Mohamed followed with a three-pointer a few possessions later making it a 63-54 lead for the Nanooks. He followed up with a layup to grow the lead to 11 going into a timeout. Out of the break, WWU pulled within two in a strong five-minute stretch but a Mrus jumper and Mohamed layup brought it back to six with just under two to play. 

Alaska entered the final minute up seven and kept the lead for it all. Kai Johnson connected from deep in the final seconds, but after Alaska inbounded the ball, the time ran out and the 'Nooks held on for the two-point victory. 

Five Nanooks scored in double-digits; Tyler Mrus led the way with 13 points on 4-10 shooting with two three-pointers, six rebounds and an assist. Jaycson Bereal, Jr., Jordan Kanoe and Abdullahi Mohamed all posted a dozen points and Nick Hopkins ended with 10 points and six boards. 

The Nanooks hit the road next weekend where they'll take on Saint Martin's and Western Oregon. 

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