FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team has released its schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The Nanooks will play 13 regular-season home games, along with tournaments in Hawaii, at Northwest Nazarene and at Westmont.
This season features several fan-favorite theme games, including a Halloween Costume Game on Saturday, Oct. 31, vs. the Seattle Mountaineers, Jersey Jam and Pajama Night on Nov. 6 and 7 vs. Northwest Indian College, Elementary Day on Saturday, Jan. 9, vs. Simon Fraser, Indigenous Appreciation Day on Saturday, Jan. 23, vs. Seattle Pacific, Go Pink With the 'Nooks on Thursday, Feb. 11, vs. Western Oregon and Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 13, vs. Saint Martin's.
"This will easily be the most challenging schedule we have faced since I have returned to the University," said head coach Frank Ostanik. "The challenge of playing six quality NCAA DII teams on the road in the first half of the season will be daunting, especially when you consider how loaded and tough the GNAC is. However, if you aspire to play late into March, you have to challenge yourself, and that's exactly what I set out to do when I made the schedule."
The 'Nooks will kick things off with their Blue/Gold game on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Kotzebue High School in Kotzebue, Alaska. They then welcome back former Nanooks to the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium for their Alumni game the next Saturday. The Blue and Gold play two more home scrimmages against the Seattle Mountaineers on Oct. 30 and 31 before their season begins in earnest with a two-game series vs. Northwest Indian College on Nov. 6 and 7.
Their first road trip of the season comes the following weekend as they head down to Honolulu, Hawaii, taking on Hawaii Pacific on Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. AKST, and Chaminade on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m. AKST. Next, the Nanooks head up to Northwest Nazarene for the NNU Tournament on Nov. 20-21, opening the tournament vs. Adams State on Friday, Nov. 20, at 2:15 p.m. AKST, and facing off against Cal Poly Humboldt the next afternoon at the same time.
Following their games in Idaho, the Nanooks return to Fairbanks, welcoming Alaska Anchorage, Davenport and Trevecca Nazarene to the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium for the Mt. McKinley Bank Arctic Crossover. The Blue and Gold begin their home tournament vs. Davenport on Friday, Nov. 27, at 7:15 p.m., before playing Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday, Nov. 28, with tip-off also scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The 'Nooks open GNAC play the following weekend, welcoming their in-state rivals, Alaska Anchorage, back to Fairbanks on Saturday, Dec. 5 for their White Out game, which tips off at 7 p.m. After their matchup against the Seawolves, the Nanooks take on Westmont and Biola in the Westmont Tournament on Dec. 18-19, wrapping up their non-conference schedule.
Alaska resumes conference play with a trip to Northwest Nazarene (Dec. 31) and Central Washington (Jan. 2), and returns to the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium on Thursday, Jan. 7, for a matchup against Western Washington at 7:30 p.m. They take on Simon Fraser at home two days later at 3:15 p.m., before hitting the road again for games at Saint Martin's (Jan. 14) and Western Oregon (Jan. 16).
After their road trip, the 'Nooks are back in Fairbanks for a four-game homestand, beginning with contests vs. Montana State Billings on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7:30 p.m., and Seattle Pacific on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 3:15 p.m. The next week, they welcome Central Washington (Jan. 28) and Northwest Nazarene (Jan. 30) to the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium, with tip-offs scheduled for 7 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., respectively. Following a trip to Simon Fraser (Feb. 4) and Western Washington (Feb. 6), the 'Nooks play their final two home games of the season, facing off against Western Oregon on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Saint Martin's on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 2:15 p.m.
Alaska concludes its regular season with three games away from home, heading to Seattle Pacific on Feb. 18 and Montana State Billings on Feb. 20, before closing things out with a rivalry matchup against the UAA Seawolves on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m.
For the full schedule, CLICK HERE.
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