Crusaders down Seawolf men in Nampa

NAMPA, Idaho – Junior guard Donnie Lao scored a career-high 21 points Saturday, but the Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team still suffered its third straight loss with a 79-74 defeat to Northwest Nazarene at the Johnson Sports Center.

UAA (12-6, 3-4 GNAC) – ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Div. II West Region – also got 12 points from junior swingman Brandon Walker in the middle contest of a three-game road swing.

NNU (12-6, 4-3) was led by 17 points from Drew Eisinger and 16 from Louie Beech as the Crusaders shot 55 percent both overall and from three-point range, plus 94 percent (16 of 17) at the free-throw line.

After earning and early 7-4 lead, the Seawolves fell behind by as much as 41-32 late in the first half. But a Lao jumper and two free throws from Steve White trimmed deficit, and UAA started the second half with an 8-0 run to go ahead 44-41.

A spinning layup by Walker gave UAA a 58-57 advantage with 7:27 remaining before the Crusaders took control for good with a 7-0 spurt. The Seawolves finally cut it to a one-possession game – 77-74 – on Casey Robinson's three-pointer with 6.7 seconds left, however Jamie Eisinger sealed the win clinched his team's victory at the charity stripe.

Robinson scored 11 points on 3-of-5 three-point shooting, playing only 19 minutes because of foul trouble.

Lao, meanwhile, enjoyed his career-best scoring night as a Seawolf, making 9 of 15 from the field and 3 of 7 from long range.

The Seawolves return to Anchorage this week before finishing their road swing Saturday, Feb. 6 at Alaska Fairbanks (3 p.m. AST).

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Players Mentioned

#44 Casey Robinson: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#22 Brandon Walker: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#14 Steve White: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

#30 Donnie Lao: G; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#44 Casey Robinson
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#22 Brandon Walker
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G

#14 Steve White
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G

#30 Donnie Lao
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G