ARCATA, CA - The University of Alaska Fairbanks men's basketball team's post-season hopes took another hit as the Nanooks dropped a 71-64 Great Northwest Athletic Conference game against Humboldt State University on Thursday night at HSU's East Gym.
The Nanooks, ranked ninth in the latest NCAA Division II West Regional rankings have lost four in a row and fall to 14-9 overall and 7-7 in the GNAC. The Lumberjacks, ranked seventh in the West Regional improve to 14-7 overall and 8-5 in the GNAC.
Trailing by 13 at the half and by as many as 16-points early in the second half, UAF mounted a furious comeback, taking advantage of 12 second half turnovers by the Lumberjacks to take a 60-59 lead on a jumper by sophomore
Chris Jordan (Houston, TX/Milby HS) with 4:25 left in regulation. The Nanooks last led 15-13 mid-way through the first half.
However, HSU would outscore the Nanooks 12-4 the rest of the way to hold on for the victory. With 52 seconds remaining, HSU's Kevin Johnson sank two free throws to give the 'Jacks a 67-60 lead. On the next possession, Jordan sank a three-pointer to cut the lead to just four points at 67-64 with 41 seconds to play.
Forced to foul, Nanook senior
Justin Bourne (Fairbanks, AK/Lathrop HS) was whistled for an intentional foul with 31 seconds remaining. UAF head coach
Frank Ostanik, unhappy with the intentional foul called against his tri-captain, was whistled for a technical foul giving the 'Jacks four free-throws and possession of the ball. Grayson Moyer sank three of the four free throws to regain a seven point advantage and put the game out of reach for the 'Nooks.
Jordan led all scorers with 23 points, shooting 10-of-13 from the field and was the only Nanook player to score in double-figures. Senior
Ivan Miskovic (Belgrade, Serbia/Monroe Catholic HS) posted nine points and five rebounds and senior
Andrew Smith (Anchorage, AK/Bartlett HS) checked in with eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
The two teams played a back-and-forth opening 10 minutes to start the game as Miskovic put UAF up 15-13 with 11:21 to play in the first half. The Lumberjacks then took control of the game, using a 20-3 scoring run over the next 5:21 to take a 32-18 lead at the six minute mark and led 39-26 at the half.
UAF was plagued by turnovers all night long, serving up a season-high 30 turnovers and Humboldt State took advantage, scoring 25 points off Nanook turnovers. The Nanooks did out rebound the Lumberjacks 34-26 and shot 56.8 percent from the field on 25-of-44 from the field.
The Lumberjacks were led by three players in double-figures, however Johnson, HSU's leading scorer, was not one of them. Jeremiah Ward paced the offense with 19 points and was supported by Will Sheufelt's and Moyer who scored 17 and 10 points, respectively.
With four games remaining in the regular season, the Alaska Fairbanks men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 when the Nanooks travel to Monmouth, OR to face the Wolves of Western Oregon University. The Wolves did help the Nanooks' playoff hopes by upsetting sixth-ranked Alaska Anchorage 81-76 in Monmouth Thursday night.
- UAF BASKETBALL -
