MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team picked up a big 89-84 overtime victory over the Western Oregon Wolves on Thursday, Feb. 22 to improve to 8-15, 6-9 GNAC.

The win for the Nanooks drops WOU to 5-18, 2-13 GNAC. 

In the first, the Nanooks posted a 48.4 shooting percentage, going 16-33 from the floor. That included only one made three-pointer, going 1-6. Despite the Wolves making three more three's than Alaska, the Nanooks held on to a 40-37 minutes. In the second, both sides made 13 field goals, but the three gave Western Oregon life late as they used a deep three to force overtime, winning the second-half 40-37. In the overtime period, the 'Nooks outscored Western Oregon 12-7 and grabbed the five-point victory. 

Western Oregon jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in the first minute and a half. Nick Hopkins and Demarcus Hall-Scriven pulled the 'Nooks back to one before Abdullahi Mohamed tied things up at 10-10. Hopkins grabbed the lead for the Nanooks at 12-10 before their lead grew to four. At the 8:57 mark, Jaycson Bereal, Jr. knocked down a three to grow the 'Nooks lead to a first-half high of five at 23-18. The Nanooks' lead stood until the 5:27 mark when WOU knocked down a three, taking back a two-point lead. The two sides traded buckets and leads until the 1:27 mark when Hopkins made a free throw giving the 'Nooks a one-point lead and then Mohamed hit a jumper with 38 seconds remaining making it a three-point lead at the break. 

Out of the break, Alaska immediately grew their lead. Demarcus Hall-Scriven made it a seven-point lead, giving Alaska their biggest lead through the first 21 minutes. Nearly two minutes later, Trey Anderson made it an eight-point advantage before Western Oregon battled back. The Wolves used a 10-2 run in six minutes to tie the game at 49-49. TJ Doman snapped the WOU run and got the 'Nooks back out in front. They stretched their lead back to five before WOU tied the game again with six and a half minutes remaining. Leading up to the final minute, the Nanooks and Wolves battled back and forth. Alaska held on to a two-point lead with 1:15 left and eventually stretched their lead to five with 29 seconds left on a Mohamed and-one. Despite four made free throws from Bereal and Hall-Scriven, WOU found themselves with the ball and seven seconds left and connected from deep at the buzzer to tie the game at 77-77, forcing overtime. 

In the overtime period WOU jumped out to a quick three-point lead before Alaska stormed back and finished on a 7-0 run after falling behind 84-82. Hall-Scriven hit a three to give the 'Nooks an 85-84 lead before following up with a layup and two free throws, giving him seven of the 12 points in OT and 17 on the night. 

His 17 was posted on 6-10 shooting with one three and a 4-4 night from the free-throw line. He added three rebounds and steals. Bereal and Mohamed both led the way with 20 points, Mohamed had six boards, four assists and three steals while Bereal had two assists and rebounds, a block and a steal. Nick Hopkins had a 13-point, nine rebound performance, adding two assists and a steal and TJ Doman finished the night a perfect 5-5 from the floor, scoring 10 points while adding six rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

The 'Nooks are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Saint Martin's in Lacey, Wash. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. AKST.

Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksMBB
X - @NanooksMBB
FB - Alaska Nanooks