MONMOUTH, Ore. – Up by double figures late and surrendering a 12-0 run, the Western Oregon men's basketball team was able to hold off the University of Alaska on Thursday in a 68-61 win in the New P.E. Building.
 
How It Happened
After winning by 32 points nearly a month ago in Fairbanks, Western Oregon was in a closely-contested battle with 11:09 left in regulation. Enter sophomore guard Malik Leaks.
 
Leaks began a crucial 21-7 spurt lasting five and a half minutes with consecutive 3-pointers, scoring eight consecutive points, and 11 of the first 13 points in the series. His fifth triple of the half gave Western Oregon a 63-49 lead with 5:53 to play. After the Nanooks reeled off an 11-0 run, cutting the lead to 63-60, junior guard Demetrius Trammell hit a straightaway 3-ball off a Leaks assist to spark a 5-0 closing run.
 
In the first half, Alaska forward Zach Pederson had 11 points and nine rebounds helping the Nanooks take a 29-20 lead following a layup with 1:31 left before halftime. Western Oregon used a late 5-0 run to go into the break down 29-25 on a layup by Ali Faruq-Bey and a 3-pointer from JJ Chirnside.
 
The Nanooks would continue to hold an advantage into the early portion of the second half before a lay-in from Tanner Omlid and triple by Chirnside put WOU up 39-36.
 
Wolves' Top Performers

• Tanner Omlid had a career-high 17 rebounds to go with 13 points for his ninth career double-double. The nation's Division II leader in steals was held without a swipe for the first time since the Elite Wight matchup against Saginaw Valley State on March 23, 2016.
• Malik Leaks had not scored in double figures since Nov. 30 against Oregon, but exploded for a game-high 17 points on 6-of-9 shots overall including five 3-pointers.
• JJ Chirnside hit three triples finishing with 12 points and four rebounds.
• Ali Faruq-Bey netted 11 points while adding four assists and three steals.

 
For the Nanooks

• Zach Pederson posted his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds in 31 minutes.
• Nahjee Matlock went just 3-of-16 from the floor but hit 7-of-10 free throws for 14 points. He added three assists and three steals.

 
Stats of the Game

• Western Oregon was 9-of-23 from behind the 3-point arc for the game, including 6-of-12 in the second half.
• The WOU bench, paced by Leaks, outscored Alaska's reserves 26-7.
• Western Oregon shot 42.6 percent (26-61) for the game while holding the Nanooks to 37.3 percent (22-59)

Up Next
The Wolves remain at home to host Alaska Anchorage on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.