FAIRBANKS (Jan. 28) - Joe Davis match his career high with 22 points and fellow reserve Eric Draper dropped in 16 points Saturday, but the Seawolf men's basketball team suffered its fifth straight last-minute road loss, 76-73 to rival Alaska Fairbanks at the Patty Center.
The Seawolves (13-8, 4-5 GNAC), who entered as the best three-point shooting team in NCAA Div. II, went an uncharacteristic 4 of 19 from long range, while the Nanooks shot well all night, making 54.2 percent from the field overall.
UAF (13-5, 6-3) was led by guard Chris Jordan's 18 points, while forward Justin Bourne had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Nanooks' perimeter defense frustrated the Seawolves all game, especially leading scorer Kemmy Burgess, who was held 11 points under his average and finished with just eight on 3-of-10 (0-of-6 3FG) shooting. Burgess did get off a game-tying attempt with 1.6 seconds remaining, but it came from 40 feet and was blocked easily by UAF.
UAF opened an early 24-13 lead before the Seawolves crawled within 30-29 at the half. The second 20 minutes was a more wide-open affair, and UAA took a 42-40 lead on the first of four Draper treys with 13:42 to play.
Neither team could stretch the lead past six points the rest of the way as Davis' free throws tied it 69-69 with 1:55 remaining. Three Andrew Smith free throws gave the Nanooks a 72-69 advantage before Burgess sank his only two charities of the game to make it a 1-point affair with only 17 ticks left.
After UAF's Mike Titus calmly drained to more free throws, James Hartman missed a three on the other end that was tapped back in by Brian Hills with only 3.2 seconds showing. Nanook guard Kenny Barker then hit another two charities to provide the final margin.
Sophomore point guard Luke Cooper dished a team-best seven assists, and senior swingman James Hartman grabbed a game-high nine rebounds as UAA out-boarded the home team 39-22.
The Seawolves have now lost all five of their Great Northwest Athletic Conference road games by seven points or fewer, including one in overtime. All five have been decided in the final 30 seconds.
UAA gets a chance to snap its road jinx when it travels to last-place Saint Martin's on Thursday, Feb. 2.
