FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks men's basketball team is set for two huge GNAC matchups this week, hosting the Seattle Pacific Falcons and Montana State Billings Yellowjackets in its final two home games of the season.
Thursday, Feb. 20
vs. Seattle Pacific | 7:30 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center
Saturday, Feb. 22
vs. Montana State Billings | 3:15 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center
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Last Time Out
The Nanooks picked up the win over rivals Alaska Anchorage in their one game last week, defeating the Seawolves 70-63 on Saturday to snap a six-game losing streak and keep them within striking distance of a GNAC playoff spot. The win over UAA was the Nanooks' second this season. Since 1975-76, the Nanooks have swept UAA in a season only four other times. This was the first season sweep since 2002-03. Isaiah Saams-Hoy led the Nanooks with 19 points on 7-15 shooting. He went 2-4 from deep while dishing six assists, grabbing six rebounds and collecting two steals. Fifteen of his 19 points came in the second half on 6-11 shooting. Paul Johnson followed with 16 points on an efficient 6-10 shooting night while going 4-7 from deep. Chris Lee had 11 points, four rebounds, two steals, and an assist, and Griffin Effenberger had 13 points on 4-8 shooting coming off the bench. He also had three steals, two rebounds, and an assist.
#NookNotes
- Isaiah Saams-Hoy leads the way in the scoring department for the Nanooks, posting 16 points per game to put him sixth in the GNAC.
- Saams-Hoy also ranks in the GNAC top 10 in blocks (1.04 per game, sixth in GNAC), assists (3.4 per game, 10th in GNAC) and steals per game (1.52, 10th in GNAC).
- His 50.4% field goal percentage ranks fifth in the conference, while Paul Johnson sits behind him in sixth with a mark of 49.2%.
- Johnson has been lights out from three this season, knocking down his attempts from beyond the arc at a 46.7% clip, the best in the GNAC and sixth-best in the nation. His 2.72 three-pointers per game are second in the conference and 65th in Division II.
- Chris Lee paces the squad and ranks sixth in the conference in assists per game, dishing an average of 3.8.
- Alaska has been one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country, averaging the 15th-most makes from beyond the arc in the country with 10. Their 37.4% three-point percentage is the 39th-best mark in DII.
Meet the Opponents
Seattle Pacific (14-12, 10-5 GNAC)
Head Coach: Keffrey Fazio (2nd Season)
The Falcons were on a seven-game winning streak before they dropped their last contest against Central Washington 68-66. They enter the week second in the GNAC standings. Junior guard Owen Moriarty has been their leading scorer this season (14.5 ppg), with his 49.1% shooting percentage ranking eighth in the GNAC. Junior forward Trace Evans leads the conference in field goal percentage (65%), while Jaxon Nap has been the GNAC's top rebounder this season (9.6 rpg).
Montana State Billings (18-10, 9-6 GNAC)
Head Coach: Luke Fennelly (2nd Season)
The Yellowjackets have won their previous three games and seven of their last eight. They have two top-10 scorers in the GNAC in Kael Robinson (16.9 ppg) and Jalen Tot (15.9 ppg), who rank second and ninth in the GNAC in points per game. Robinson also ranks second in field goal percentage (53.6%) and sits fourth in rebounds per game (6.7). Meanwhile, Tot is third in the conference in steals per game (1.89) and shoots at the fifth-highest clip from deep (31.3%). MSUB is averaging the fewest turnovers (10.1 per game) and fouls (13.5 per game) in the conference this season.
Canned Food Drive
Thursday's game against the Falcons is Alaska's canned food drive. Donate three canned or non-perishable food items tomorrow night, and you're in FREE for the Nanooks matchup with Seattle Pacific! All donations will go to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank!
Senior Day
The Nanooks will hold their senior day on Saturday's game against the Yellowjackets. They will honor Jordan Gill, Paul Johnson and Griffin Effenberger. Come out and celebrate our seniors as they play their final game in the Patty Center!
GNAC Standings
- Central Washington (17-7, 11-3 GNAC)
- Seattle Pacific (14-12, 10-5 GNAC)
- Northwest Nazarene (16-6, 9-5 GNAC)
- Western Washington (17-8, 9-6 GNAC)
- Montana State Billings (18-10, 9-6 GNAC)
- Saint Martin's (19-8, 8-6 GNAC)
- Alaska (10-13, 6-8 GNAC)
- Simon Fraser (9-16, 5-10 GNAC)
- Alaska Anchorage (11-16, 4-10 GNAC)
- Western Oregon (4-20, 1-13 GNAC)
What's to Come
The 'Nooks wrap up the regular season with road matchups against the Saint Martin's Saints and Western Oregon Wolves. They take on the Saints on Thursday evening before wrapping things up against the Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
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