FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team is set for two games against Northwest Indian College this Friday and Saturday.
Friday, Nov. 29
7 p.m. vs. Northwest Indian College
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center | Fairbanks
Saturday, Nov. 30
7 p.m. vs. Northwest Indian College
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center | Fairbanks
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
Last Time Out
The Nanooks are coming off two wins last week over the Multnomah Lions, starting the weekend with an 83-79 victory on Friday, Nov. 21, and picking up the 85-84 win on Saturday.
Alaska opened the weekend by coming back from a 79-78 deficit with 28 seconds left, with Isaiah Saams-Hoy drilling a three at the 19 second mark to give Alaska the win. Chris Lee led the 'Nooks in scoring with 23 points on 8-of-20 shooting, while Jalai O'Keith (19 points), Saams-Hoy (14 points) and Griffin Effenberger (14 points) joined him in double-digit scoring. Alaska shot 44.4% from the floor and 39.3% from deep during the contest.
The second game against the Lions would also come down to the wire, with the Nanooks once again finding themselves in a tight contest. After a Saams-Hoy three gave Alaska an 84-81 lead with 1:18 to go, Multnomah's Braedon Edison scored the following three points to tie the score. However, Ketan Sidhu sank a clutch free throw to put the 'Nooks up one in the last second of the game, securing the victory for the Blue and Gold. Lee would again lead the Nanooks in scoring, posting 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting, while Saams-Hoy finished with 21 points. Alaska posted shooting totals of 48.4% from the field and 37% from three.
#NookNotes
- Chris Lee has posted a team-high 96 points over the first five games for the Nanooks.
- Isaiah Saams-Hoy is shooting a team-high 56.7% from the floor among players with at least 10 made field goals this season. He also leads the team in minutes played at 181:06.
- Saams-Hoy and Jalai O'Keith are tied for the team lead in assists, with both players dishing out 14 to start the season.
- O'Keith is Alaska's top rebounder so far, grabbing 55 boards through five games. Elyon Zevenbergen is averaging the highest number of rebounds per game on the team with 13.
- Paul Johnson has knocked down 10-of-17 three-pointers in 2024-25, which gives him a team-best 58.8% three-point percentage.
- Alaska is shooting at a 46.2% clip as a squad, which ranks fourth in the GNAC. Its 35.2% three-point percentage ranks fifth in the conference.
- The Blue and Gold are shooting 74.4% from the line, which is good for third in the GNAC.
- The Nanooks have the second-highest scoring offense in the GNAC, averaging 83 points per game.
Big Introductions
Alaska's newcomers have hit the ground running since joining the squad. Chris Lee currently leads the GNAC in points per game, averaging 19.2. He is coming off two straight 20+ point performances, including a 28-point showing his last time out against Multnomah. Meanwhile, Isaiah Saams-Hoy sits behind him in third, scoring 17.6 points per game. He has picked up right where he left off after his 28-point, 12-of-15 shooting performance against Chaminade, posting 14 and 21 points in the two games against Multnomah. The San Jose, Calif., native dished out eight assists during the weekend series, and his performance was highlighted by the three-point dagger against the Lions to secure the win on Friday.
Jalai O'Keith has posted three double-doubles in his first five games with Alaska, the most in the GNAC. The guard out of San Diego, Calif., is averaging 12.8 points and 11 boards per game for the 'Nooks.
Grab The Rock
The Nanooks sit at the top of the GNAC in defensive rebounds and total rebounds per game to start the season. Their mark of 44.2 team rebounds per game is over two more than the next closest GNAC school and puts them sixth in Division II. Their 31 defensive rebounds per game is good for ninth in the nation.
Meet the Opponent: Northwest Indian College
Head Coach: Adam Lane
The 'Nooks have faced the Eagles twice before, with both matchups coming during the 2015-16 season. Alaska holds a 2-0 record over Northwest Indian College, winning by 113-63 and 117-70.
What's Next
The Nanooks hold their GNAC opener next week with a game against Western Oregon on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 5:15 p.m.
Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksMBB
X - @NanooksMBB
FB - Alaska Nanooks
