MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The Western Oregon men's basketball team built a massive first-half lead and needed every bit of it as it held off Alaska Anchorage for an 84-76 victory Thursday night at New PE Building.

The Wolves (6-9 overall, 3-5 GNAC) built a 24-point halftime lead at 47-23 after shooting 60.6 percent from the field and 5-for-11 from 3-point range while holding the Seawolves (9-8, 3-5) to 33.3 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.

But UAA stormed back to start the second half to nine points at 54-45 in the first 7 minutes and 30 seconds of the second half. The Wolves' lead was cut to a point at 68-67 after a UAA 3-pointer with 4:41 left in the game, but WOU answered with a 11-2 run capped by a 3-point play by John Morrill-Keeler with 2:19 left. The Seawolves wouldn't get closer than five the rest of the game.

Daisone Hughes led five Wolves in double figures with a career-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Cameron Benzel finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, Carson Frincke had 12 points (4-for-6 from 3-point range) and Elihu Cobb and Morrill-Keeler each had 10 poin stand five rebounds. Qiant Myers for the third time this season reached double-figure assists with 10 to go along with six points.

The Wolves take on Alaska Fairbanks 4:15 p.m. Saturday.