FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks men's basketball team picked up a big win over Western Washington on Thursday, Feb. 15. The 94-82 win over the Vikings improves the 'Nooks to 6-15, 4-9 GNAC.

Alaska used a strong first half to run out ahead by 10. The Nanooks made 21 field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes and shot 52.5% compared to Western's 15 made field goals and 48.3% clip. Three made three-pointers helped the Nanooks hold on to their lead into the break. Out of the halftime break, Alaska cut their shooting from deep in half but maintained their efficiency. They shot 55.8% from the floor and fended off a WWU comeback attempt to walk away with a 12-point win. 

In the first half, the Nanooks fell behind 7-2 in the opening 1:36. After a Trey Anderson bucket got the Nanooks on the board, Western strung together five-straight for the lead. They extended their lead to 10-4 before back-to-back three-pointers from Jaycson Bereal, Jr. and Abdullahi Mohamed made it a 10-10 tie. The Vikings regained the lead and grew their lead to four. The Western lead stood through to the 27-27 point. That lead grew as many as six, but the Nanooks found their stride and a Trey Anderson jumper, Bryan Nguyen three and Abdullahi Mohamed free throws made it 28-27 Nanooks. Tyriq Luke grew that lead to three and kickstarted the 'Nooks run in the first. Trey Anderson knocked down a three to extend it to seven and the 'Nooks went on to make it a 12-point game at the 3:44 mark on another three from Mohamed. 

Their lead in the first would hit 14 at the 1:34 mark before taking their 10-point lead at the break. 

Out of the break, their lead reached 16 in the first minute and a half. For the next nine minutes, Western's comeback attempt happened. The two sides traded baskets until Jonathan Ned pulled the Vikings to within eight at the 14:18 mark. Five minutes later, WWU was within two; Alaska used a timeout at the 9:44 mark and out of that break, sparked the final push they needed to claim the win. Out of the timeout, Mohamed threw down a dunk off of a Luke dish and Luke followed up with a three, making it 80-73 Nanooks. After another push from WWU made it a four-point lead, the Nanooks ran out and grew their lead to double-digits for the final time. 

Luke put the game away with a jumper the 1:04 mark, making it a 14-point game before Alaska grabbed the 12-point win. 

Tyriq Luke led the way with 20 points on 9-11 shooting. He added four assists, one block and rebound. Jaycson Bereal, Jr. and Mohamed added 18 points each. Mohamed added nine boards, three assists and a steal. Bereal had two monstrous dunks, three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Anderson was the final scorer in double-digits, finishing with a dozen on 5-7 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing four assists. 

The 'Nooks are back in action Saturday against Simon Fraser. Tip is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.

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