Box Score
FAIRBANKS, AK - Alaska used two free throws with no time left on the clock from freshman
Cole Daniel to walk off with a 77-76 win at the Patty Center on Saturday night. The Nanooks led by as many as 21 in the first half only to see the visiting Saints take a five point lead late to set up the dramatic finish.
The Nanooks got off to a fast start after Saint Martin's got ahead 2-0 to start. The Nanooks went on a 24-3 run which was highlighted by three three-pointers by
Emmanuel Jenkins (Tacoma, WA) and three free throws by
Jon Moe (Granite Falls, Washington). The run lasted for 8:41 of playing time with Jenkins scoring 16 points during that span. Saint Martin's could only muster one field goal in 16 opportunities before Jeremy Green hit a jumper at the 10 minute mark to break the scoreless drought.
After the fast start the Nanooks cooled off from the floor and after they hit their 24th point of the game they went the next six minutes without a field goal, only making 4-of-5 free throws during that stretch.
Alaska went on to stretch their lead to 21 with 2:51 left in the half. The Saints finished the half on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 14 going into the locker room.
Alaska finished the half shooting 46% (12-of-26), while also hitting 11-of-16 from charity stripe where Moe was 6-of-6. Jenkins went into the half with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting while Moe also sported double-digit points with 10. The Nanooks were able to capitalize with 18 points on 11 Saint turnovers in the half.
Despite shooting a dismal 24% (8-of-33) from the field the Saints were able to stay in the contest by out rebounding the Nanooks 25-20, which included 15 on the offensive glass.
Saint Martin's opened up the second half with a flurry racing out to a 9-2 run to cut the Nanook lead to only seven a few minutes into the half.
Galen Squiers cut the Nanook lead to four with 12 minutes left in the half with his fourth three-pointer of the half. Saint Martin's continued their comeback cutting the lead to one, and then taking their first lead, after Blake Poole knocked down five straight free throws.
The game went back and forth down the stretch and with both teams trading leads before Squiers hit the rare four-point play resulting in a five point Saints lead.
Down, but not out the Nanooks battled back to cut the lead to two with 26 seconds remaining. Brady Bomber missed back-to-back foul shots only to have Blake Poole pick up the rebound and knock down both free throws after being fouled.
Jenkins came right back and hit his fourth three-pointer of the night to give the Nanooks one last gasp at victory. Squiers would get fouled and miss two free throws to set up the thrilling finish.
Jenkins drove the lane and missed a floater with two second remaining but Fairbanks' own
Cole Daniel (Fairbanks, AK) picked up the rebound and was fouled as time expired with Alaska down by one. Daniel calmly hit both free shots to give the Nanooks a walk off win.
“It was a good to finally get back in the win column.” stated head coach Clemon Johnson. “We battled hard and we look to build off of this as we continue conference play."
Alaska ended the game shooting 44% (24-of-54) from the field and 6-of-14 from behind the arc. Alaska also was able to score 20 points off of 15 Saint turnovers. Jenkins led Alaska with 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including 4-of-8 from down town. Moe also had a strong offensive game with 25 points on 5-of-10 shooting while going a perfect 14-of-14 from the charity stripe.
Joe Powell (Englewood, NJ) also picked up 10 points and eight rebounds, six offensive, in the victory.
Saint Martin's ended the contest shooting 35% (23-of-65) while out rebounding Alaska 42-40. The Saint's also pulled down 23 offensive rebounds and had 29 second chance points to stay in the game. Poole led the Saints with 26 points on 5-of-7 shooting while hitting 16-of-20 free throw attempts. Squeirs had 20 points, 18 of them in the second half, in the losing effort. Poole also led Saint Martin's with 11 rebounds, five on the offensive end.
The Nanooks will go on the road next week when they travel to Nampa, ID to take on Northwest Nazarene on Thursday before traveling to Seattle, WA to take on Seattle Pacific on Saturday. Game times are set for 5:30 p.m. AST and 2:30 p.m. AST, respectively.
