MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The Western Oregon men's basketball team cut a 14-point, second-half deficit down to one, but couldn't quite get over the hump and fell to Alaska Fairbanks 80-70 on Thursday night at Wolves Athletic Center in WOU's GNAC opener.

The Wolves (3-4 overall, 0-1 GNAC) trailed 48-34 with 18:25 left in the second half before going on a 13-0 run - capped by a pair of Jadin Penigar free throws with 13:59 remaining to make it 48-47.

Unfortunately for WOU, it's as close as it would get to the Nanooks (4-3, 1-0) as UAF built the lead back to as large as 13 before winning by 10.

Penigar paced the Wolves with 30 points - going 11-for-17 from the field. Noah Ogoli had a strong game with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Carson Frincke also finished in double figures wit h11 points - going 3-for-5 from 3-point range.

The Wolves return to action Saturday at 4:15 p.m. against Alaska Anchorage.