FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks returned home for the first time in 2025 on Thursday evening, hosting the Central Washington Wildcats. Alaska trailed for most of the game and fell by a final of 93-74.
How it Happened
Paul Johnson got things started with two jumpers out of the gate, giving Alaska an early 4-3 lead in the first 1:18. The Nanooks kept things close, with Elyon Zevenbergen adding a jumper and Chris Lee connecting on two free throws to put Alaska down 9-8 with just under five minutes gone. However, an 8-2 Wildcats run saw their lead grow to 17-10. The Nanooks tied things up with a 9-2 run, aided by baskets from Zevenbergen and Isaiah Saams-Hoy and a three ball by Jalai O'Keith, but they could not get themselves in front, and CWU pulled away with a 13-2 run, taking a 32-21 advantage with 5:16 remaining in the half. The Wildcats continued to build their lead for the rest of the period, and despite three-pointers from Saams-Hoy and Griffin Effenberger, Alaska trailed 44-29 entering the break.
Central Washington started the second with four straight points in the first minute of play. They held a 50-31 lead before a three-pointer from Ketan Sidhu sparked a 7-0 run for the Nanooks, putting them down 12 three minutes in. Alaska still trailed by double digits until ten unanswered points put them within six at 66-60 halfway through the period. Lee sank threes on back-to-back possessions to help them on their run. However, the Wildcats scored the following seven points to reestablish a double-digit lead. Alaska did not get to within 10 for the rest of the game, and despite nine points for Lee down the stretch, the Nanooks fell by 19.
Inside the Numbers
- Chris Lee led the team with 23 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the floor and 4-of-9 from three. He tied for the team lead in rebounds with four, dished out two assists and collected a block.
- Isaiah Saams-Hoy followed with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting. He knocked down his only three-point attempt of the evening while notching two blocks and two steals.
- Jalai O'Keith was the final Nanook to finish in double-digit scoring, posting 11 points. He went 4-of-8 from the floor and 1-of-4 from deep.
- Ketan Sidhu grabbed four rebounds to tie him with Lee for the team lead. He finished with five points on 2-of-3 shooting while connecting from beyond the arc once.
- Elyon Zevenbergen posted eight points, going 4-of-5 from the floor, and grabbed three rebounds.
- Alaska shot 50.9% from the floor and 37.5% from three during the contest, compared to shooting totals of 55.9% and 57.1% for the Wildcats.
- The Nanooks trailed in second-chance points (12-9), points off turnovers (18-11) and points in the paint (36-26).
- The 'Nooks were outrebounded 31-25.
What's to Come
The Nanooks conclude their homestand on Saturday with a 3:15 p.m. tipoff against Northwest Nazarene.
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