Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Forward Jeffrey Parker (So., Richmond, CA/Salesian) scored 18 of his game-high 26 points to break open a tight contest as Western Washington University pulled away to an 80-57 victory over University of Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Jan. 31, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball contest at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The triumph snapped a rare two-game home losing streak for the Vikings, who improved to 11-10 overall and 4-7 in the GNAC. Guard Ricardo Maxwell (Jr., Cincinnati, OH/Withrow) added 15 points and center Mac Johnson (Jr., Spokane/Gonzaga Prep) had 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals for WWU.

UAF fell to 5-14 overall and 2-9 in the GNAC with its seventh consecutive loss. Guard Ashton Edwards and center Almir Hadziesehovic each had 13 points for the Nanooks, and forward Eric Fongue added 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

The Vikings trailed 13-10 with a little over 13 minutes left in the first half, but held UAF scoreless for more than seven minutes to take a 19-13 lead, and led the rest of the period, holding a 34-27 lead at halftime.

The Nanooks were still within four, 40-36, early in the second half, but WWU then blew the game open with a 26-4 charge over the next seven minutes, with Parker scoring 10 of the points, opening up a 66-40 lead with eight minutes left. The margin was never less than 22 points after that.

The Vikings shot 45.6 percent (31-of-68) from the field, 54.5 percent (18-of-33) in the second half, and forced 22 turnovers, the second-most in a game this season.

WWU, which two weeks ago was shooting under 62 percent on free throws, continued its recent improvement, hitting all eight attempts.

Parker was 8-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-11 on 3-pointrers, and hit all five of his free throw attempts.

Prior to its 81-76 loss to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, the Vikings had not dropped two straight home contests since the end of the 2010-11 season.

WWU goes on the road to face Seattle Pacific University on Thursday, Feb. 5 (7 p.m.) in a GNAC counter.