FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Western Oregon men's basketball team fell 82-74 at Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday at Alaska Airlines Gymnasium.
Western Oregon (9-18 overall, 4-14 GNAC) trailed 46-36 at halftime as the Nanooks shot better than 60 percent in the opening half. Alaska Fairbanks (14-13 overall, 9-9 GNAC) maintained control early in the second half before the Wolves mounted a push midway through the period.
WOU cut a 12-point deficit to four at 65-61 with 10:01 remaining on a Braydon Olson layup. The Wolves later trimmed the margin to 69-65 on an Olson 3-pointer with 5:34 to play and pulled within four again at 74-70 inside the final three minutes. The Nanooks responded at the free-throw line down the stretch to secure the eight-point decision.
Noah Ogoli led WOU with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting and added five assists. Jadin Penigar scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Olson finished with 16 points, including four 3-pointers. AB Gilchrist contributed six points and three rebounds, and Peter-Kaci Gwananji added four points and five rebounds.
