FAIRBANKS – The Nanooks men's basketball team fell to 9-8, 4-4 GNAC on Thursday evening after a 90-72 loss to the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets.
How it Happened
The Nanooks searched for their first basket for nearly the first two minutes, with Mike Miller eventually registering their first field goal of the game with a two-point jumper to tie the game at three at the 18:07 mark. Luke Fotheringham answered a Miles Gurske jumper with a layup to keep it tied, but MSUB followed with a 9-2 run to establish a 14-7 advantage. Fotheringham and Cortarius Mingo kept it close with a layup and a three, respectively, and a Tyriq Luke triple made it a 22-17 game. Six unanswered MSUB points gave the visitors a double-digit lead, but back-to-back Luke threes would eventually make it a two-point game with three minutes before halftime. The 'Nooks eventually took the lead thanks to a Mingo three, which put them ahead 37-36, and he would end the half by converting a three-point play to give the Blue and Gold a 40-38 lead at the break.
A Davis Crilly basket kept the Nanooks in front early in the second, but Alaska would go over three minutes without a score, allowing 14 unanswered points and falling behind 54-42. Mingo ended the drought with a driving layup, but the Yellowjackets kept the pressure on, following that with a 10-1 run that saw their lead balloon to 19 points. Crilly led the Nanooks with nine points over the final 10 minutes of action, knocking down a three to go along with a layup and a jumper. Jalai O'Keith, Marcus Stockhausen and Mingo all hit threes in the final three minutes, but the Nanooks were held to just 4-17 (23.5%) from three in the second half while MSUB went 9-15 (60%) from downtown.
Inside the Numbers
- Cortarius Mingo posted a team-high 19 points vs. the Yellowjackets, going 7-9 from the field, 3-5 from beyond the arc and 2-3 from the charity stripe.
- Tyriq Luke scored 17 points on 5-13 shooting while dishing five assists to lead the team.
- Davis Crilly was the final Nanook to finish in double figures, posting 14 points on 5-13 shooting. He added five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.
- Jalai O'Keith led the team with seven rebounds and two steals.
- The Nanooks shot 25-60 (41.7%) from the field, 11-37 (29.7%) from three and 11-19 (57.9%) from the free throw line during the game.
- Alaska got 29 points from its bench compared to 18 for MSUB.
What's to Come
The Nanooks wrap up their homestand on Saturday, Jan. 24, with a showdown against Seattle Pacific at 2:15 p.m.
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