FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Western Washington University men's basketball team had its three-game winning streak snapped in an 81-75 road loss against the University of Alaska Fairbanks Thursday evening in Alaska Airlines Gym.
The Vikings and Nanooks were tied 32-32 at the half, but UAF made a 16-2 run early in the second half to help seal the victory. WWU made a late comeback attempt closing to within two possessions in the final minute, but the Nanooks held on for the six-point victory to split the season series with each team winning on its home court.
WWU was playing without leading scorer and reigning GNAC Player of the Week Jalen Green (injury) and UAF did not suit up conference leading scorer Shadeed Shabazz.
The Vikings were led by 19 points from sophomore guard D'Angelo Minnis, 18 points from Fairbanks native Daniel Hornbuckle and 17 points and six rebounds from senior forward Luke Lovelady (7-for-12 FG).
Nanooks senior guard Quin Barnard led all players with 31 points on 8-for-15 shooting, connecting on eight three-pointers (7 in the second half). Abdullahi Mohamed added 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting and tallied a double-double with 11 rebounds. Coleman Sparling also totaled a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
WWU (11-7, 4-4 GNAC) was limited to its second-lowest shooting performance of the season, going 28-for-73 from the field (.384) and 6-for-23 (.261) from three-point range.
The Vikings (11-7, 4-4 GNAC) remain in Alaska taking on Alaska Anchorage (9-5, 4-3) on Saturday night with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 pm AKT/8:30 pm PT in the Alaska Airlines Center. A live webcast and statistical updates will be available with direct links at wwuvikings.com/Live.
Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and UAF from Thursday's game:
|
COMPARISON
|
WWU
|
UAF
|
|
Points
|
75
|
81
|
|
Field Goal Pct.
|
.384 (28-73)
|
.424 (28-66)
|
|
3 Point FG Pct.
|
.261 (6-23)
|
.435 (10-23)
|
|
Free Throw Pct.
|
.684 (13-19)
|
.714 (15-21)
|
|
Rebounds
|
42
|
40
|
|
Offensive Rebounds
|
14
|
10
|
|
Assists
|
10
|
14
|
|
Turnovers
|
9
|
10
|
|
Steals
|
5
|
2
|
|
Blocked Shots
|
3
|
3
|
|
Time Led
|
7:11
|
30:06
|
|
Points off Turnovers
|
8
|
10
|
|
Points in the Paint
|
38
|
30
|
|
Bench Points
|
12
|
8
|
SERIES HISTORY VS. ALASKA FAIRBANKS
WWU split the season series with UAF with each team winning on its home court. The Vikings defeated the Nanooks 94-92 on January 8 in Bellingham. WWU continues to lead the all-time series 37-16 and has still won seven of the last nine meetings. Thursday's loss snapped a three-game winning streak in Fairbanks with WWU now 15-10 all-time at the Nanooks home court.
Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings following play on Thursday, with the Vikings now at 4-4 in league play to tie for 6th in the standings:
|
MEN'S BASKETBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
Saint Martin's
|
7-3
|
.700
|
14-5
|
.737
|
8-2
|
5-3
|
1-0
|
Lost 1
|
|
Montana State Billings
|
5-3
|
.625
|
9-9
|
.500
|
5-6
|
2-2
|
2-1
|
Won 2
|
|
Central Washington
|
6-4
|
.600
|
12-5
|
.706
|
6-1
|
5-3
|
1-1
|
Won 1
|
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
4-3
|
.571
|
9-5
|
.643
|
6-0
|
2-5
|
1-0
|
Won 1
|
|
Seattle Pacific
|
5-4
|
.556
|
12-8
|
.600
|
7-1
|
2-5
|
3-2
|
Won 2
|
|
Western Washington
|
4-4
|
.500
|
11-7
|
.611
|
10-2
|
0-3
|
1-2
|
Lost 1
|
|
Simon Fraser
|
4-4
|
.500
|
9-7
|
.563
|
5-1
|
3-5
|
1-1
|
Lost 1
|
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
3-4
|
.429
|
5-7
|
.417
|
3-1
|
2-5
|
0-1
|
Lost 2
|
|
Western Oregon
|
2-6
|
.250
|
3-13
|
.188
|
2-3
|
1-7
|
0-3
|
Lost 7
|
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
2-7
|
.222
|
5-10
|
.333
|
2-1
|
1-7
|
2-2
|
Won 1
|
|
THURSDAY'S GNAC SCHEDULE
|
|
at Alaska Fairbanks 81, Western Washington 75
at Alaska Anchorage 71, Simon Fraser 59
at Central Washington 93, Northwest Nazarene 70
Montana State Billings 80, at Saint Martin's 69
Seattle Pacific at Western Oregon (Postponed)
|
|
SATURDAY'S GNAC SCHEDULE
|
|
Western Washington at Alaska Fairbanks, 7:30 pm AKT
Montana State Billings at Western Oregon, 4:15 pm
Simon Fraser at Alaska Fairbanks, 5:15 pm AKT
Seattle Pacific at Saint Martin's (Postponed)
|
The ever-changing 2021-22 WWU Men's Basketball Schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/21-22_MBB, complete with links to purchase tickets and live coverage links for webcast and live stats.
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 three of the last four years (and seven of nine) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is the 12th winningest Division II program with its 1,525 all-time victories.
