ANCHORAGE - Brandon Walker scored a game-high 19 points and the Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team used another strong defensive effort to earn a 69-39 win over Western New Mexico in the AT&T Jamboree at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex on Saturday night.
The Seawolves (6-2) also got a 14-point, 15-rebound performance from junior forward Nick Pacitti as they remained unbeaten against Division II competition this year.
The Mustangs (3-6) got 12 points and four assists from guard Justin Williams, but the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association squad was held to 26.5 percent shooting and was outrebounded 50-30 by the larger Seawolves.
Saturday's results was never truly in doubt as UAA jumped to an 18-1 lead before WNMU scored its first field goal at the 9:27 mark. Walker, a junior guard from Hayward, Calif., scored 17 of his points in the first half while the Seawolves built a 38-15 advantage at the break.
UAA has now produced three of the top eight first-half defensive efforts in school history this season, along with seven points allowed at American Sports University (Nov. 11) and 10 points allowed against Grand Canyon (Dec.12).
Walker shot 7 of 13 from the floor and made all four of this free throws, while Pacitti came off the bench to shoot 5 of 7 overall (1-1 3FG) and dish three assists. Pacitti's 15 boards rated as the most for a Seawolf against a fellow Division II opponent since Carl Arts pulled down the same number in a 91-76 loss at Seattle Pacific on Jan. 20, 2005.
Junior guard Kevin White had five points, three assists, two blocks and two steals, plus a career-high-tying eight rebounds, while true freshman center Liam Gibcus tied his personal best with nine points on near-perfect shooting (2-2 FG, 5-6 FT).
Along with its 67-38 win last week over Grand Canyon, tonight's result marks the first time in program history (since 1977-78) that UAA has held consecutive opponents to less than 40 points. It is also the Seawolves' 10th straight victory over the Mustangs, extending their longest current streak against any opponent.
AT&T Jamboree Game 1 - UAF 83, Chaminade 77
Alaska Fairbanks forward Parish West scored 27 points on 13-of-16 shooting to lead the Nanooks to a 83-77, comeback victory in Saturday's opening game of the AT&T Jamboree at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
The Nanooks (4-4) also got 21 points and seven assists from Emmanuel Jenkins, while fellow guard Jon Moe added 12 points.
The Silverswords (3-5), who led 48-43 at halftime, got 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting - plus 12 rebounds - from forward Matt Cousins.
UAF will take on Western New Mexico in the Jamboree's early game (3 p.m. AST) Sunday, while host Alaska Anchorage will play Chaminade in the late contest at 7 p.m.
