ANCHORAGE (Feb. 15) - Peter Bullock and Cody Gallatin combined for 50 points as the UAA men's basketball team rallied for a thrilling 90-84 overtime victory over Seattle Pacific at the Sports Center tonight.
The win moved UAA (12-10, 9-4 GNAC) into a second-place tie in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Seattle Pacific (12-9, 8-4) got double-doubles from Yusef Aziz and Jason Chivers in the loss.
Both teams rallied from double-digit deficits in a game that had several twists and turns. UAA led 22-11 early before the Falcons stormed back to take a 42-37 halftime lead. The Falcons then built a 55-45 advantage on a layup by Chivers (15 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks) at the 15:47 mark.
UAA answered with defense, holding the Falcons scoreless for the next five minutes to claw back into it. The Seawolves chipped away until Bullock tied it 66-66 on a pair of free throws with 5:06 remaining. Bullock finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds for his 30th career double-double.
Aziz (22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists) split a pair of free throws, and Adam Fitt-Chappell answered with a bank shot to put UAA up 69-68. Daniel Sandrin's layup gave SPU the lead again before Gallatin tied it with a free throw at 3:26. Gene Woodard put the Falcons on top at 2:01, and Gallatin (24 points, six assists) answered with a short jumper in the lane to knot it at 71-71.
Both teams missed chances in the final minute and a half, the final attempt coming on Aziz's 10-foot jumper that bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
On UAA's first overtime possession, Jesse Brown launched a desperation three-pointer as the shot clock ran down, banking it home for just his fourth three of the season. Two Gallatin free throws and four straight points by Fitt-Chappell made it 80-71, and the Falcons never got closer than the final margin.
Brown finished with nine points and made numerous defensive stops, including a steal in the final minute of regulation and drawing a charge against Aziz in the extra period.
The Seawolves, who lost in overtime to Seattle Pacific last season at the Sports Center, are now 19-3 all-time against the Falcons at home. The win also snapped a three-game losing streak in the series.
UAA takes its current five-game winning streak into it a showdown with Alaska Fairbanks for sole possession of second place next Saturday, Feb. 22. Tip-off is 7:05 p.m. at the Sports Center.
