FAIRBANKS – The Nanooks men's basketball team is back in Fairbanks this week for two games against the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks and Central Washington Wildcats. They take on the Nighthawks on Thursday evening before wrapping up their homestand vs. the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.

Thursday, Feb. 5 - Elementary Night
vs. Northwest Nazarene | 7 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium | Fairbanks

Saturday, Feb. 7 - Unity Game
vs. Central Washington | 3:15 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium | Fairbanks

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Last Time Out
The Nanooks split their two games on the road last week, defeating Simon Fraser 69-57 on Thursday, Jan. 29, and falling to Western Washington 96-89 on Saturday, Jan. 31. 

The 'Nooks ended the first half of their game vs. Simon Fraser trailing 33-31, but used three straight layups to regain the lead early in the second. Despite the Red Leafs tying the game twice over the next two minutes, the Nanooks remained in front, with a Tyriq Luke three-point play putting Alaska up by three. A Mike Miller three gave the 'Nooks a two-basket lead, and another three from Cortarius Mingo put them up by double-digits with just over seven minutes remaining. The Nanooks maintained a lead of at least five for the rest of the game, eventually winning by 12. Miller led all scorers with 22 points during the game, going 6-12 from the field and making four of six threes. He also led the team with seven rebounds and three assists, while tying for the team lead with three steals.

In Saturday's game vs. Western Washington, the Nanooks led by as many as 15 points, with a Jalai O'Keith three putting the 'Nooks up 66-51 with 13:17 to go in the second. However, the Vikings eventually tied things up at 73 and took the lead with a three on the following possession. From there, the Nanooks could not regain the lead. Miller once again led the Nanooks with 21 points and nine rebounds, while O'Keith followed with 20 points, going 6-8 from downtown.

#NookNotes

• Thursday's game vs. the Nighthawks is Alaska's Elementary Night, where all elementary students get in FREE with their family! The first 350 fans to the game will get a limited-edition Alaska Nanooks x Moda Health beanie.
• Mike Miller leads the 'Nooks and ranks eighth in the GNAC with 16.2 points per game. He ranks third in the conference in steals per game with two.
• Tyriq Luke (15 ppg), Davis Crilly (12.9 ppg) and Jalai O'Keith (11.7 ppg) also are averaging double-digit points this season.
• Crilly and O'Keith are both grabbing 6.2 rebounds per game, putting them seventh and eighth in the GNAC.
• Tyriq Luke is knocking down his free throws at an 81.1% clip, the ninth-highest in the conference.
• Tariq Weiser is dishing out 3.8 assists per game and has recorded a 1.71 assist/turnover ratio this season, ranking sixth and ninth in the GNAC, respectively.
• The 'Nooks are making 10.3 three-pointers per game, which leads the GNAC and ranks 14th in Division II.
• Their 79.1% team free-throw percentage is one of the highest in the country, ranking eighth among all DII teams.
• Alaska's 1.38 assist/turnover ratio is the third-best in the conference and 29th in the nation.

Meet the Opponents
Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (12-7, 6-4 GNAC)
Head Coach: Jon Hawkins (3rd Season)

• The Nighthawks are on a two-game losing skid coming into Fairbanks, dropping contests vs. Saint Martin's 79-63 and Central Washington 91-76.
• Junior guard Easton Reagan leads the team in scoring, averaging 22.4 points per game to lead the GNAC and put him eighth in Division II. His 56.8% field goal percentage also puts him at the top of the conference and 35th in the nation.
• As a team, the Nighthawks are knocking down 46.9% of their shots, which is the third-best mark in the GNAC and 73rd in DII. Their 36.2% three-point percentage puts them sixth in the conference and 54th in Division II.

Central Washington Wildcats (11-10, 5-5 GNAC)
Head Coach: Brandon Rinta (8th Season)

• The Wildcats are riding a two-game winning streak entering the week. They picked up wins over Western Oregon, 92-75, and Northwest Nazarene, 91-76. They play once in Anchorage on Thursday, Feb. 5, before heading up to Fairbanks.
• They have two players who rank in the GNAC top-10 in scoring, with junior guards Jordan Clark (18.6 ppg) and Bradley Swillie (15.6 ppg) sitting sixth and ninth in the conference in points per game. Senior center Calvin Sisk is the GNAC's top shot-blocker, averaging 1.7 rejections per game (1st in GNAC, 37th in DII).
• CWU is committing the fewest fouls in the GNAC at 14.7 per game. That mark is good for 22nd in the nation.

GNAC Standings

1. Saint Martin's (17-4, 9-2 GNAC)
2. Montana State Billings (18-6, 7-4 GNAC)
3. Alaska Anchorage (15-7, 7-4 GNAC)
4. Northwest Nazarene (12-7, 6-4 GNAC)
5. Central Washington (11-10, 5-5 GNAC)
6. Seattle Pacific (10-8, 5-6 GNAC)
7. Western Washington (11-11, 5-6 GNAC)
8. Alaska (10-10, 5-6 GNAC)
9. Western Oregon (8-12, 3-8 GNAC)
10. Simon Fraser (5-14, 2-9 GNAC)

What's Next
The Nanooks return to action next Saturday when they head down to Anchorage to take on in-state rival UAA on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

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