FAIRBANKS – It was an offensive explosion for the Nanooks men's basketball team (5-4, 1-1 GNAC) in their return to Fairbanks on Friday evening, as they defeated the West Coast Baptist Eagles 126-81. Their point total from the game ranks as the second-most in program history and the most since joining the GNAC. Additionally, their 24 three-pointers on the night matches the third-most in GNAC history.

How it Happened
Luke Fotheringham set the tone on the first possession, throwing down a dunk six seconds into the contest to give the 'Nooks their first points of the night. After an Eagles layup on the following possession tied it up at two, Davis Crilly sank one from the perimeter, which kick-started a 14-3 run for the Blue and Gold. Mike Miller led the way during the run with eight points, knocking down a three-pointer and converting a three-point play. This gave the Nanooks an 11-point lead and forced a WCBC timeout. The Eagles responded out of the break with a two-point jumper, but the Nanooks followed by scoring their next seven points without a response to take a 23-7 lead. Crilly logged a three-pointer and a dunk during the run. Alaska built a 34-13 lead at the midway point of the first, with Miller and Tyriq Luke adding two more threes and Crilly converting an and-one after hitting a layup. Cortarius Mingo connected on a three of his own to give the 'Nooks a 37-18 advantage, and Luke followed by scoring Alaska's next 10 points. Another Mingo three put the Nanooks up by 21 with 5:45 to go in the first, and they would end the half by hitting four more threes to give them 13 in the first half, as Miller and Jalai O'Keith both connected on two. This gave Alaska a 68-40 halftime lead.

Miller started the scoring in the second half from the free-throw line, knocking down both of his attempts from the stripe to make it a 30-point game. Luke, Fotheringham and Miller all hit layups over the next 2:15 to maintain Alaska's 30-point advantage, before Crilly connected on a three to give the 'Nooks a 79-47 lead. Luke, Joel Amaro, O'Keith and Tariq Weiser each added a three before the midway point of the second, seeing Alaska's lead increase to 40. O'Keith converted an old-fashioned three-pointer to help the Nanooks cross the century mark with 8:35 left, putting them in front 100-61. Marcus Stockhausen joined in on the three-point frenzy, adding a pair on back-to-back possessions to spark a 20-0 run for the Nanooks. Jackson Krug sank three triples during the stretch, giving him a quick 11 points in just over three minutes. Stockhausen capped off the night with an emphatic dunk to give the Blue and Gold the 126-81 win.

Inside the Numbers

• Tyriq Luke and Mike Miller tied for the team lead with 23 points. They both went 4-6 from three, while Miller added three rebounds and three steals.
• Davis Crilly and Jalai O'Keith both posted 16 points. Crilly grabbed 11 rebounds to give him a double-double, while also posting five assists and two steals.
• Jackson Krug was the final Nanook in double-figures, posting 11 points on 3-6 shooting. All of his attempts came from beyond the arc. He also added three rebounds, three assists and a block.
• Cortarius Mingo shot a perfect 3-3 from deep to give him nine points.
• Tariq Weiser led the 'Nooks with seven assists. He added five points on 2-3 shooting and collected three steals.
• The Nanooks shot 47-77 (61%) from the field and 24-41 (58.5%) from three, while knocking down all eight of their free throw attempts.
• Alaska outrebounded WCBC 42-23 and posted 30 assists to West Coast Baptist's nine.
• The 'Nooks got 51 points from their bench, compared to 10 for the Eagles. The Blue and Gold also led in points off turnovers 26-14, second chance points 17-7 and points in the paint 44-32.

What's to Come
The Nanooks play their final home game of 2025 tomorrow afternoon with another matchup against the WCBC Eagles. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium.

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