FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks men's basketball team wraps up its six-game homestand this week with its first GNAC contests this season. The 'Nooks take on Western Oregon on Thursday afternoon before facing Saint Martin's on Saturday.
Thursday, Dec. 5
5:15 p.m. vs. Western Oregon
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center | Fairbanks
Saturday, Dec. 7
3:15 p.m. vs. Saint Martin's
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center | Fairbanks
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
Last Time Out
Alaska is coming off a two-game sweep of Northwest Indian College last weekend.
The 'Nooks opened the weekend series by cracking the triple-digit mark, posting 104 points in a 104-68 victory last Friday. Chris Lee led the Nanooks with 22 points on the evening, going 10-of-12 from the floor while grabbing two rebounds and dishing out three assists. Isaiah Saams-Hoy followed with 20 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 2-of-5 from three. He collected five assists and two rebounds in the win. Griffin Effenberger would post 14 points and 12 boards to give him the double-double while leading the 'Nooks with six assists and four steals. Shiloh Zevenbergen and Jalai O'Keith were the other two Nanooks to finish with double-digit points, posting 12 and 11, respectively. Ketan Sidhu also logged a double-double for Alaska, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds. The 'Nooks would shoot 54.2% from the field and 38.5% from three while knocking down 11 of 13 free throw attempts. They held the advantage in second-chance points (6-3), points off turnovers (25-18) and fastbreak points (24-9) during the win.
They capped off their series against NWIC with a 96-79 win on Saturday. O'Keith notched Alaska's first 30-point outing of the season, posting 33 points while going 11-of-16 from the field and 7-of-11 from distance. Saams-Hoy followed with 21 points, shooting 9-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-6 from three. He grabbed eight rebounds, dished out eight assists and swiped two steals during the win. Lee and Jeremiah Hersrud were the other two Nanooks to finish with double-digit points, tallying 18 and 13, respectively. Lee tied Saams-Hoy for the team lead in assists with eight, while Hersrud posted a perfect shooting percentage, going 4-of-4 from the floor, 2-of-2 from three and 3-of-3 from the line. Sidhu again grabbed double-digit rebounds, leading Alaska with 11 boards in the contest. The Nanooks shot 46.7% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc as a team.
#NookNotes
- Chris Lee has been Alaska's top scorer to start the season, averaging 19.4 points per game, which ranks first in the GNAC and 52nd in Division II.
- Isaiah Saams-Hoy is second in the GNAC in points per game with 18.4 and leads the team in assists per game with 3.9.
- Jalai O'Keith has collected three double-doubles to start the season, which is good for first in the conference. He also leads the GNAC in rebounds per game with 9.6, putting him 20th in the nation.
- O'Keith is shooting at a 42.9% clip from beyond the arc this season, leading the GNAC; his 2.57 three-pointers per game rank fourth in the conference.
- The Nanooks lead the GNAC in three-pointers per game, averaging 10.9 makes from beyond the arc. That mark is good for 16th in DII.
- Their 36.4% three-point percentage puts them third in the conference.
- Alaska has had the top scoring offense in the GNAC this season, averaging 87.9 points per game. They are the 32nd-highest scoring offense in the nation.
- The Blue and Gold has posted a 47.4% field goal percentage to start 2024-25, which is the second-highest in the conference.
- The 'Nooks have been big on the boards this season, grabbing 44.57 rebounds per game. That ranks first in the GNAC and seventh in Division II. Their 32 defensive rebounds per game is fourth-best in the nation.
- Alaska has out-rebounded its opponents by 8.3 boards per game.
Meet the Opponents
Western Oregon 2-7, 0-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Wes Pifer (5th season)
The Wolves have started their season with a 2-7 record. They won the first game of the GNAC/CCAA Challenge on Nov. 8, defeating Cal State Monterey Bay 89-88. WOU is coming off its second win after holding off Academy of Art 90-83 in overtime.
WOU has averaged the second-most made free throws in the GNAC, knocking down 17.7 per game. They are third in the GNAC in bench points per game with 28.6.
Western Oregon is led by senior guard Jason Gallant, whose 18 points per game put him third in the conference. He has dished out 3.4 assists per contest to start the season, which is good for 10th in the GNAC. He leads the GNAC in made free throws with 44 and sits second in minutes per game, averaging 36:20 of action.
Saint Martin's 9-2, 0-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Aaron Landon (5th season)
The Saints come into the week having won nine of their first 11 games to start the season. They opened the season on an eight-game winning streak, defeating No. 10 Cal State San Bernardino 90-81 and No. 8 Dallas Baptist 94-85 in their first two games this season at the CCA Canadian Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 1 and 2. They dropped two straight against No. 17 Point Loma Nazarene and Metro State (Colo.), falling by finals of 92-88 and 76-56. However, they rebounded against Regis, taking down the Rangers 76-71 in their last outing on Nov. 30.
SMU is averaging the most bench points per game in the GNAC this season with 31.2. They also rank first in offensive rebounds, grabbing 14.36 offensive boards per game. The Saints sit second in the GNAC behind the Nanooks in total rebounds per game with 42. They rank second in three-pointers (10.3), steals (9.3) and fastbreak points per game (14.45). Finally, they are second in the conference in scoring margin, outscoring teams by an average of 9.7 points this season.
Diego Trejo-Delgado has been their top scorer to start 2024-25, posting 146 points for the Saints, which puts him third in the GNAC and 56th in Division II. The sophomore forward is tied for the team lead in rebounds with 56. He is Saint Martin's top scorer from the line, converting 27 free throws for the Saints, and is second on the team in blocks with nine.
What's Next
The Nanooks hit the road to close out 2024, traveling to Saint Leo, Fla., for two contests hosted by Saint Leo University. They open up their trip to Florida with a game against Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday, Dec. 20, before playing hosts Saint Leo the next day.
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