Dalven Brushier
Amanda Loman
86
Western Oregon WOU 5-2, 0-2 GNAC
88
Winner Alaska Anchorage UAA 8-2, 2-0 GNAC
Western Oregon WOU
5-2, 0-2 GNAC
86
Final
88
Alaska Anchorage UAA
8-2, 2-0 GNAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Western Oregon WOU 30 45 11 86
Alaska Anchorage UAA 30 45 13 88

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Despite 50 percent shooting from three, Wolves suffer tough OT loss at the buzzer in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Every time the Wolves needed a big shot, someone was there to answer the call. Facing an early 10-point deficit in the second half, the Western Oregon University men's basketball team fought back and went down the stretch hitting big three-point shots to send the game into overtime. Following a strong start to overtime off a trio of three-pointers, Alaska Anchorage closed the final two minutes on a 9-0 run, including a three-pointer at the buzzer by Jack MacDonald to win the game for the SeaWolves 88-86 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday night.

"Our guys played really hard and answered every play that Anchorage made, but on the last play they had a guy step up and make a shot at the buzzer," head coach Wes Pifer said. "We as a unit have to get better down the stretch when leading and closing the game out and that falls on me."

WOU (5-2, 0-2 GNAC) shot 14-28 from three, including a 9-11 clip alone in the second half and then went 3-5 in the overtime. For the game, the Wolves made 32-75 (43) from the field and went 8-14 (57) from the foul line. Alaska Anchorage (8-2, 2-0 GNAC) also made 14 three-pointers, but had to take 40 attempts to make their 14 three-pointers to go 35 percent from deep. From the field, the SeaWolves shot much better going 34-76 (45) and then went 6-8 (75) from the foul line.

Dalven Brushier led the way with 21 points going 8-19 from the field and 4-7 from three. He recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and he also added five assists. It was the fourth time this season he has scored at least 20 points, one shy of his season-high 22 against Regis.

Cameron Cranston scored a season-high 21 points and is the fifth time this season he has scored in double-figures. He went 8-12 from the field and a strong 5-8 from three-point range, including a pair in overtime. He grabbed a pair of rebounds, dished out two assists and had a block.

Darius Lubom tallied 17 points giving him six straight games scoring in double-figures. He connected on six field goals, 3-6 from three and added five rebounds, five assists and a steal. John Morrill-Keeler pushed for a double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds, going 6-11 from the field. It's the second time this season he has reached double-figures in scoring. Jaylyn Richardson tallied 12 points as all five starters scored in double-figures. He was close to a double-double as well with seven rebounds, four assists and went 4-7 from the field.

Cranston gave WOU their first lead of the game nearly three minutes in when he dialed long distance for the 7-6 advantage. Following a layup by Morrill-Keeler that stretched the lead to three, Alaska Anchorage had the lead out as high as seven and were holding a six-point lead late in the first half when the Wolves closed on a 6-0 run to even the game at 30 at halftime. Cranston scored four of the points and Lubom hit two from the line to help WOU even things at the break.

The SeaWolves exploded out of the break ripping off the first 10 points over the first three minutes to move out to their largest lead of the game at 40-30. WOU refused to go away answering with a 14-4 run over the next four-plus minutes to even the game at 44 when Brushier hit a trey at the 12:48 mark.

With another big couple of runs by Alaska Anchorage had the lead back to six on a couple of occasions, the Wolves again pushed back with Brushier hitting a three-pointer and then a layup by Lubom moved WOU to the lead at 72-71 with 1:53 to play in regulation.

The teams continued to trade big shots with UAA answering on the next trip to go up one. Lubom responded with a trey to move WOU to the 75-73 lead with 1:24 to play. After the teams traded possessions without any points, Oggie Pantovic was able to tie the game for the SeaWolves with a layup with 11 seconds to play. WOU had 11 seconds to attempt a potential game-winning shot, but Lubom's runner missed sending the game into overtime.

The Wolves got hot right away in the extra session with Richardson hitting a three and then Cranston a three to push the lead to four. Cranston then sunk another deep ball at the 2:19 mark to move the lead to 86-79. After that, Alaska Anchorage worked their way back into the game finishing on a 9-0 run. With eight seconds to play in the game and WOU holding a one-point lead, the SeaWolves came out of a timeout and found MacDonald who hit the game-winning three-pointer off an assist from Tyrus Hosley to take the 88-86 victory.

Pantovic paced Anchorage going for a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds, along with two assists and two blocks. Three others reached double-figures with Niko Bevens tallying 19 points, Hosley with 16 points and Tyler Brimhall with 11 points.

WOU committed just eight turnovers, while forcing nine and held a 14-13 points off turnovers edge. WOU also held a 17-11 advantage on second-chance points and the teams were close on points in the paint with UAA holding a slight 34-32 edge. The SeaWolves used a big 43-1 advantage in bench points.

WOU will now return home for six straight games inside NPE Building Gym beginning with an exhibition contest versus Corban next Saturday, Dec. 14 starting at 3 p.m.
 
 
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