ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Western Oregon Wolves could not capitalize on a cold shooting night from Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, falling to the Seawolves 61-57 at Alaska Airlines Center.
Western Oregon (9-3, 2-1) shot 35 percent from the field on 62 attempts and 17 percent from 3-point range on a night where both sides never found an offensive rhythm. Alaska Anchorage (6-5, 1-2) could not best that number, coming up with a 34 percent field goal shooting mark.
Junior forward
Riley Hawken posted his third double-double of the season, dropping 19 points and 11 rebounds in his eighth consecutive game scoring in double figures. 14 of those points and nine of his rebounds came in a strong second half.
Hawken's five straight points, complimented by an
O'landa Baker layup, gave the Wolves a slim one-point lead with 13:29 left in the first half. It would prove to be their final lead of the game.
Alaska Anchorage got over half of their scoring from Sjur Berg and Tyler Brimhall who combined for 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting. Similarly, Hawken and
Darius Lubom combined for 35 of WOU's 57 points, shooting a combined 14-for-25.
Trailing by 10 with just over four minutes remaining in the game, the Wolves rallied to pull within a point inside the final minute of the game, but were unable to complete the comeback. Baker drilled a 3-pointer and Lubom made a layup with 30 seconds remaining to get Western within a single point. After Jack Macdonald converted two free throws, one last chance at a game-tying shot bounced off the front of the rim to seal the win for the Seawolves.
Lubom finished with 16 points, 10 coming in the second half, along with five assists and three rebounds.
Despite handily winning the turnover battle 15-10, the Wolves were outscored in points off turnovers by the Seawolves, 11-10 in the game.
Thursday's 57 points was the lowest-scoring game for WOU since their 54-point performance Nov. 30, 2016 against the University of Oregon.
Next up for Western Oregon is a trip to Fairbanks on Saturday for a meeting with the Nanooks. Tipoff against Alaska is set for 4:15 p.m. PST at Alaska Airlines Court.
