BILLINGS, Mont. - Senior point guard Ed Kirk matched his career-high with 32 points, but the University of Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team lost to Montana State-Billings, 105-91, in a battle for first place in the Pacific West Conference's Pacific Division tonight.
Kirk shot 12-of-25 from the field as the Seawolves (11-6, 5-3) fired up 86 shots in the up-and-down affair. However, MSU-Billings (13-3, 6-2) outrebounded the Seawolves 51-43 and got to the free throw line 51 times, compared to UAA's 14 charity tries.
Reserve Kevin Morales led the way for Billings with 22 points, while center Dan Carter poured in 20.
Senior guard Taylor Wagner scored 14 and hit 4-of-7 three-pointers in the loss. He has now made 13 of his last 18 threes. Freshman guard Nathon Glover scored 13 and had a career-best nine rebounds to lead the Seawolves.
UAA and Montana State-Billings will play twice more this season, Feb. 16 and 17 in Anchorage. The Seawolves now return to Anchorage to play Seattle University on Feb. 1 at 8 p.m.
