Unforgettable weekend earns men's basketball the GNAC Team of the Week Award
February 28, 2013
Jamie Foland
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The Alaska men's basketball team had a weekend that head coach Mick Durham said each of his players would never forget.
The Nanooks stunned previously unbeaten and second-ranked Western Washington last Thursday and added a come-from-behind win two days later against Simon Fraser to be named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Team of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday morning.
"After the game Saturday, I told them this is a weekend you'll never forget, even though Simon Fraser was a close game,” Durham said. “It's something they will remember forever. You don't beat teams that have won 30 in a row very often, let alone do you have a chance to be able to do that."
The Vikings had not lost since March 2, 2013, a win streak that had stretched to a program- and conference-record 30 straight games, but that record came to a screeching halt last Thursday at the Patty Center when Alaska overcame the odds and upset WWU 77-73.
“We did talk about that we can't let Western get away from us, we can't let them extend the lead and stay in range,” Durham said. “They are a quick-scoring offense and we didn't want to let it get away. We didn't and took it down the stretch and our guys had tremendous confidence to finish it.”
Two days later, the Nanooks celebrated Senior Day and had to use a stout defensive effort over the final few minutes, holding Simon Fraser scoreless for the final 3:36 and ending the game on a 7-0 run to win 63-61 to improve to 15-9 on the year and 10-6 in GNAC play.
"The most impressive thing of the weekend was our last three minutes and 30 seconds against Simon Fraser and we held them scoreless,” Durham said. “That was the big difference. We were in trouble there and our guys have bought into playing good defense. I think that's the biggest improvement from last year's team to this year's team. I know it's a new team but look how far we've come defensively and rebounding."
Junior center Sergej Pucar (Belgrade, Serbia/Business administration) was named GNAC Red Lion Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks after scoring 44 points, including a career-best 26 points in Thursday's win. He shot 53.6 percent (15-28) for the week and drained six three pointers on 10 attempts while also contributing 15 rebounds and four blocks.
Other leading contributors included senior guard Dominique Brinson (Juneau, Alaska/Accounting), who had 26 points while junior guard Ronnie Baker (Vallejo, Calif./Communication) added 24 points and 10 rebounds.
The Nanooks conclude the 2012-13 regular season this week with a pair of tough road tests at teams which have already clinched a GNAC Championship berth. On Thursday, Alaska takes on Montana State Billings at 5 p.m. (AKST), followed by a Saturday 6 p.m. (AKST) meeting at fifth-ranked Seattle Pacific.
Alaska can finish anywhere between third and fifth place for the conference playoffs, dependent on this week's results.