FAIRBANKS - The Alaska men's basketball team picked up a day one victory at the 2023 Big Island Holiday Classic on Sunday, Dec. 17. Paul Johnson called game with a three-pointer in the overtime period, giving the Nanooks a 64-61 win, moving them to 3-6, 1-1 GNAC on the season. 

In the first half, the Nanooks held the advantage, going into the halftime break up 32-25. Percentage-wise, Alaska was outshot by Hilo, 41.6% to 42.8%, but one more made field goal and three-pointer, alongside four more made free throws gave the 'Nooks the seven point lead after the opening 20 minutes. Jaycson Bereal, Jr. got the scoring started for the Nanooks with a three-pointer, giving Alaska an early lead. They'd run out to an 8-4 lead in the opening four minutes; that run was capped off by a Demarcus Hall-Scriven three. The lead would stick with the Nanooks but fluctuated as Hilo went on a few small runs. After the Vulcans tied the game up at 17-17, Alaska ended the first on a run, stretching their lead to as many as nine before taking a seven-point lead into the halftime break. 

Out of the half, Alaska grew their lead to 10 on another Hall-Scriven three, this time stretching their lead to 35-25. Their lead would be cut into by Hilo over the next six minutes as the Vulcans made it a 37-36 game with 13:49 remaining. The Nanooks managed to answer each UHH push until Hilo took the lead at the 9:58 mark on a Zoar Nedd three, making it 42-41 UHH. The rest of the half was full of back-and-forth basketball and saw neither side regain a lead more than four. Entering the final minute of regulation, Hilo held a one-point lead. Neither side managed to score until seven seconds remained when Abdullahi Mohamed knocked down the back-end of a pair of free throws to force overtime. In OT, Hilo quickly grabbed a lead but Bereal, Jr. connected from the outside to give the lead back to Alaska. 

After Hilo took a three-point advantage, the Nanooks had to battle back. Behind a TJ Doman jumper and Tyriq Luke three, the 'Nooks were back in front. At the 1:38 mark, Charles Elzie III tied the game at 61-61; both sides went cold offensively until with 21 seconds left, Paul Johnson connected on a corner three for, not only his first points of the game, but what proved to be the game-winner, giving Alaska the 64-61 win. They withstood one final look as UHH missed the potential game-tying three and Bereal, Jr. grabbed the rebound to close it out. 

Bereal led the 'Nooks with 14 points on 5-9 shooting and 2-3 from deep. He added five rebounds and a pair of assists. Luke and Hall-Scriven both ended with a dozen points and Doman rounded out the double-digit efforts with 10 on 4-7 shooting. 

Alaska is back in action tomorrow night against San Francisco State. 

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