FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks men's basketball team fell to Montana State Billings on Thursday, Feb. 29. With the loss, the Nanooks are now 8-17, 6-11 GNAC.

Despite holding the Yellow Jackets to under 50% from the floor in the first half, the Nanooks trailed by 20 at halftime. Both teams took 33 shots in the first half, however, Alaska made nine shots to MSUB's 16, shooting just 27% from the field in the half. Alaska battled in the second half 40-37, but ultimately fell 81-58.

In the first, Abdullahi Mohamed got the 'Nooks on the board with a jumper after being held scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of action, falling behind 11-2. The Yellow Jackets would continue to stretch the lead, going ahead by 19 frequently throughout the rest of the half, before a steal and two made free throws stretched it to 20 to end the half, 41-21. 

After an MSUB basket, Jaycson Bereal, Jr. got the second half going for Alaska, hitting a three to cut the MSUB lead to 19. The Yellow Jackets would have an answer, stretching the lead to 24. Mohamed, Bereal, Jr. and Demarcus Hall-Scriven would each respond, propelling the Nanooks on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 18, 48-30. MSUB would immediately answer, rolling off seven-straight to extend the lead to 25. Two Mohamed free throws and a Nick Hopkins layup cut the lead to 21. Again, MSUB would answer, embarking on a 13-2 run to swell the lead to 32, 68-36. Down the stretch, the Nanooks would chip away at the Yellow Jackets lead, capped off by a Nick Hopkins three-pointer cutting the lead to 22, 75-53. Unfortunately, that would be the closest the Nanooks would get, as they fell 81-58. 

Demarcus Hall-Scriven led the way in scoring for Alaska with 19 points, adding five boards and four assists. Jaycson Bereal, Jr. added 15 points on 6-12 shooting and a 2-4 performance from the three-point line. Abdullahi Mohamed added 11 points, leaving him seven points shy of becoming the 16th player to score 1000 points in a Nanooks jersey. 

The Nanooks welcome Seattle Pacific for Senior on Saturday to wrap-up the season.