Men's basketball downs MSUB for first GNAC win
December 3, 2012
Jamie Foland
474-6807
Fairbanks, Alaska – Alaska had five players score in double figures and collectively as a team shot better than 50-percent from the floor to pick up an 80-73 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Montana State Billings on Saturday afternoon at the Patty Center.
The Nanooks (5-4, 1-1 GNAC), who led throughout the entire game, matched last year's win total (5-23) while the Yellowjackets (4-4, 0-2 GNAC) fell for the third straight time on their two-week road trip to Hawaii and Alaska.
Senior guard Dominique Brinson (Juneau, Alaska/Accounting) drained four three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points. Junior guard Pat Voeut (Bellingham, Wash./Communications) finished with 16 points and a game-high six assists while junior center Sergej Pucar (Belgrade, Serbia/Business administration) had 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Junior guard Ronnie Baker (Vallejo, Calif./Communications) and junior forward Dallen Bills (Inkom, Idaho/Psychology) combined for 22 points off the bench.
The Nanooks shot just shy of 57-percent (30-53 FG) for the game while limiting the 'Jackets to 43-percent (24-56 FG) shooting. They dominated the boards 36-22 and dished out 18 assists, to MSUB's nine. Despite turning the ball over 19 times to the Yellowjackets' 12, the 'Nooks still outscored the visitors 20-16 off turnovers. Alaska also got the job done from the free throw line, converting on 93-percent (14-15 FT) to Billings' 71-percent (15-21 FT).
Alaska opened the game with a 7-0 run in the first 4:31 and never gave up the lead at any point. Later in the half, Alaska led 23-18, but a 12-2 surge over four minutes extended the advantage to 35-20, the largest of the game, with 2:01 left. The Nanooks led 37-23 at the break.
Both squads shot 50-percent in the second half, virtually went bucket-to-bucket as the lead stayed between nine and 14 points for much of the early going of the second period. Trailing 55-43, MSU Billings scored seven of nine to climb to within seven at 57-50 with 9:15 to go. Alaska answered back with an 8-2 run to maintain a 65-52 advantage with 6:30 to go. The closest the Yellowjackets got the rest of the way was five on a pair of occasions late in regulation play, but free throws sealed the win for the Nanooks.
Alaska will have a two-and-a-half-week break for finals and return to action Dec. 17 and 18 when it hosts non-conference foe Multnomah. Both games are slated for 7:30 p.m. starts following women's basketball's games against Dallas Christian College.