Starting off the BP Top of the World Classic Basketball Tournament, the Division II Nanooks lost their first game last Thursday, but they were able to bounce back for two more wins against Division I teams to take fourth place. Here's a roundup:

Game one: UAF 55, SDSU 67

In the first game, the Nanooks lost 67-55 to the Aztecs of San Diego State University.

Fouls killed the Nanooks, as they made only three of eight free throw attempts, while the Aztecs put away 20 of 29 attempts. The Nanooks actually outscored the Aztecs in regular play, scoring 23 field goals and six 3-pointers to San Diego's 22 field goals and 3 three-pointers.

After a solid start in the first half, where UAF trailed 11-12, the Aztecs went on a 9-0 scoring run, pushing 10 points ahead of the Nanooks. Scores of 13-23 and 19-29 throughout the remainder of the half kept things even.

At halftime, cheerleaders from local schools performed for the 3,229 fans in attendance. The Chaparrals of Chugiak High School were followed by the UAF Cheer and Dance team.

In the second half, the Aztecs pushed to an early 20-point lead, but the Nanooks followed with a 21-5 scoring run, closing the gap to four points midway through the period. SDSU held on, however, and drove the Nanooks back to secure a 12-point lead at the end of the contest.

Justin Bourne led the Nanooks with 15 points, and Jonathan Osborne sank 12. The game's real standout was Brandon Heath, who contributed 29 points for the Aztecs, scoring all three of the team's 3-pointers. SDSU also received 16 points from Marcus Slaughter.

Game five: UAF 65, MSU 62

Thursday's defeat set the Nanooks up for an exciting game against the Bobcats of Montana State University on Saturday night, which they won 65-62. UAF went scoreless for more than four minutes at the beginning of that game, falling behind 11-0, but the hometown team fought their way back, taking the lead on a 3-pointer by Austin Autry with seven minutes left in the first half.

Autry, the 5-foot-9 freshman guard from Los Angeles, came off the bench and did his part to stoke up the 3,098-member crowd with his energetic play. Autry was on fire as he sank three 3-pointers in succession in the first half, going four for six on 3-point shots in the game and leading the Nanooks scoring with a total 15 points. His counterpart Kenny Barker was close behind, scoring a career high 14 points.

After that shaky start, the Nanooks' shots started to sink as they outscored the Bobcats 32-13 for the remainder of the first half, but they would have to mount another comeback in the second half.

Though the Nanooks defense was relentless, stripping balls away and capitalizing on MSU's several missed passes, the Bobcats were again able to take an eight-point lead with just under eight minutes to go in the game. MSU's Ja'Ron Jefferson would tally 16 points in the game, with teammate Marvin Moss scoring 11.

The Nanooks scoring turned things around until they were within one point after a field goal by Andrew Smith brought the score to 59-60. From there it was Barker, going eight for 10 on free throws, who secured the win.

Game 11: UAF 78, KSU 65

Saturday's win brought the Nanooks head-to-head with the Kennesaw State Owls on Sunday. The big guys- 6-foot-8 forwards Andrew Smith and Ivan Miskovic-dominated the floor and the scoring as the Nanooks led for almost the entire game, except for a 3-2 Owls lead early on.

Smith would log 20 points in Sunday's win, with Miskovic scoring 18 of his own and Chris Jordan also in the double-digits with 10 points. Smith also grabbed 12 rebounds, with Miskovic and Justin Bourne getting seven apiece.

The Nanooks also shut down one of the Owls' star players, Golden Ingle, for most of the game. Ingle, who had led his team in scoring in earlier Top of the World games, had difficulty using his speed against the quick hands of the Nanook defense, but the Owls' Ronnell Wooten wowed the crowd with an alley-oop dunk in the second half.

Both teams had some nice passing plays, and both were scrambling and diving to the floor for loose balls, playing a very fast-paced game of basketball.

The 2,528 fans in attendance cheered the 'Nooks on to their victory, which earned them fourth place against the Division I teams playing in the Top of the World Classic.

The Nanooks hit the court again Dec. 2 when they host Life Pacific College in the first of two games at the Patty Center.