FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A key second-half run led the Western Washington University men's basketball team to a come-from-behind 71-63 victory over Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday afternoon on Alaska Airlines Court in the Patty Center.
The Vikings battled through seven lead changes in the game, and overcame a seven-point second-half deficit, to record the eight-point win over the Nanooks. WWU trailed 34-29 at the half and 51-44 with 8:22 remaining, but finished the game on a 27-12 run to record the third consecutive road sweep of the Alaskan schools (7th overall in program history).
WWU extended its winning streak to six consecutive games to improve to 10-4 overall and gained sole possession of second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 5-1 league record. WWU has won eight of its last nine games and now just trails Seattle Pacific (6-0) in the conference standings. UAF dropped to 5-9 overall and 4-2 in GNAC play.
The Vikings second-half comeback was propelled by a 19-4 run, turning the 7-point deficit into an 8-point lead. The key turning point was three consecutive 3-pointers by D'Angelo Minnis and a pair by Leif Anderson with eight minutes remaining in the game. WWU was 2-for-13 from 3-point range prior to the three straight long distance shots that tied the game at 53-53.
Minnis scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half, and had 10 points over the final 2:25 to seal the victory for the Vikings. Minnis finished 6-for-11 from the field and was 5-for-6 from the free throw line.
Senior forward Trevor Jasinsky crossed the 1,300-poine milestone for his career with 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting, and added 11 rebounds for his sixth career double-double.
WWU shot 39.0% (23-for-59) from the field, but were 13-for-29 (44.8%) in the second half.
The Nanooks were led by a game-high 21 points from GNAC leading scorer Shadeed Shabazz and a 7-point, 10-rebound performance off the bench by Alex Sommerfield.
The Vikings won the rebounding battle 39-35, including a 13-7 edge in offensive boards, and had 14 points off turnovers.
WWU (10-4, 5-1 GNAC) returns home next week to host a pair of GNAC games in Carver Gym, with the Vikings entertaining Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday. Both games feature a 7 pm tip-off on WECU Court and can be followed online via VikingsTV.
SERIES HISTORY VS. ALASKA FAIRBANKS
The Vikings have won five straight and six of the last seven games vs. Alaska Fairbanks to lead the all-time series 35-15. Won each of the last three games in Fairbanks.
Senior Trevor Jasinsky continues to climb the WWU all-time scoring list, currently in 15th place as he crossed the 1,300-point milestone today with 16 points against Alaska Fairbanks. Jasinsky also moved into 6th in WWU history with 174 career made 3-pointers.
|
WWU ALL-TIME LEADING SCORERS
(sorted by total points scored)
|
|
Rk
|
Player
|
Points
|
G
|
Avg.
|
|
1.
|
Jeffrey Parker (2013-17)
|
1,867
|
121
|
15.4
|
|
2.
|
Grant Dykstra (2002-06)
|
1,844
|
113
|
16.3
|
|
3.
|
Ryan Diggs (2002-06)
|
1,783
|
109
|
16.4
|
|
4.
|
Jared Stevenson (1996-2000)
|
1,728
|
106
|
16.3
|
|
5.
|
Mike Palm (1999-2003)
|
1,649
|
111
|
14.9
|
|
6.
|
Manny Kimmie (1986-1990)
|
1,624
|
126
|
12.9
|
|
7.
|
Harold Doyal (1991-95)
|
1,571
|
117
|
13.4
|
|
8.
|
John Allen (2010-13)
|
1,480
|
96
|
15.4
|
|
9.
|
Ira Graham (2004-05, 2006-09)
|
1,465
|
91
|
16.1
|
|
|
Jeff Dick (1990-94)
|
1,465
|
114
|
12.9
|
|
11.
|
Mike Franza (1969-73)
|
1,436
|
90
|
16.0
|
|
12.
|
Tim Dickerson (1984-88)
|
1,347
|
123
|
11.0
|
|
13.
|
Jacob Stevenson (1998-2002)
|
1,320
|
106
|
12.5
|
|
14.
|
Kevin Bryant (1976-1980)
|
1,310
|
109
|
12.0
|
|
15.
|
Trevor Jasinsky (2016-current)
|
1,302
|
104
|
12.5
|
|
16.
|
Rory Blanche (2008-12)
|
1,273
|
109
|
11.7
|
|
17.
|
Richard Woodworth (2009-14)
|
1,262
|
123
|
10.3
|
|
18.
|
Shelton Diggs (1998-2002)
|
1,251
|
109
|
11.5
|
|
19.
|
A.J. Geisa (1998-2002)
|
1,189
|
109
|
10.9
|
|
20.
|
Mike Clayton (1966-70)
|
1,093
|
89
|
12.3
|
Fans can follow the men's basketball team online at WWUVikings.com/MBB, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUHoops) and Facebook (@WWUmensbball). You can also get game updates by following the @WWUAthletics Twitter.
One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 11 seasons. WWU is a six-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion and has appeared in the NCAA II Elite 8 three times. The Vikings won the 2011-12 NCAA Division II National Championship and advanced the following season to the NCAA II Final Four. Western has 20-win seasons in two of the last three years, including a 25-6 record in 2016-17 where it won the GNAC regular season and conference championships title, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships as the No. 3 seed in the West Region. WWU is the 12th winningest Division II program with its 1,504 victories.
