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Robinsons rally UAA men past UAF

Men's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Robinsons rally UAA men past UAF

ANCHORAGE – Junior forward Casey Robinson scored all 18 of his points in the second half Wednesday to help the Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team earn an 81-78 victory over Alaska Fairbanks in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest a the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves (16-8, 7-6 GNAC) – ranked No. 9 in the most recent NCAA Div. II West Region poll – also prevailed thanks to a career-high 17 points from junior point guard Drew Robinson.

The Nanooks (7-16, 2-12) were led by 19 points and eight rebounds from forward Joe Powell, while senior point guard Emmanuel Jenkins scored 18 points as he nearly brought the visitors back in the final minutes.

UAA took a 39-33 lead when it scored the first eight points of the second half, but the Nanooks responded quickly, and the game remained a one- or two-possession affair for the next 10 minutes.

Tied for the 10th and final time at 58-58, Drew Robinson began a 13-2 UAA run with a pair of free throws at the 8:20 mark. Donnie Lao (9 points, 3 assists) ended the spurt with a fastbreak layup with 5 minutes left, making it 71-60 before the Nanooks made their final surge.

Two three-pointers by Jenkins sliced UAA's advantage to 73-70 with 2:44 to play, and Jenkins pulled the Nanooks within 75-74 when he converted off UAF's offensive rebound of Powell's missed free throw.

After a pair of 30-second timeouts, Lao got the ball in the corner and drove baseline with the shot clock running down. With the defensive collapsing in the lane, Lao dished to Casey Robinson at the top of the key for a huge three-pointer that made it 78-74 with 1:13 left.

The Nanooks again trimmed it to a one-point game on Edwin Clayton's jumper with 22 second to go, and Brandon Walker was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play. The Seawolves' leading scorer calmly drained both free throws to complete a 15-point effort and set up UAF's last chance to tie.

Jenkins fired a 28-foot three-point attempt that appeared to be on target but clanged off the rim. A scramble for the rebound left UAF with possession with 2.6 seconds showing, however the Seawolves deflected the inbounds pass into the backcourt, preventing the Nanooks from attempting a last shot.

Casey Robinson shot 4 of 9 from three-point range and 6 of 6 at the charity stripe, while Drew Robinson shot 6 of 11 and made all four of his free throws. UAA also got 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting, plus six rebounds, from freshman center Liam Gibcus.

The victory was UAA's ninth straight over its rival and seventh straight at home. The Seawolves now lead the all-time series 66-21, including 38-5 in Anchorage.

The Seawolves next head to Montana State Billings on Saturday, Feb. 27, for their final regular-season road game.


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Players Mentioned

Casey Robinson

#44 Casey Robinson

F
6' 6"
Junior
Brandon Walker

#22 Brandon Walker

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
Liam Gibcus

#32 Liam Gibcus

F/C
6' 10"
Freshman
Donnie Lao

#30 Donnie Lao

G
6' 3"
Junior
Drew Robinson

#11 Drew Robinson

G
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Casey Robinson

#44 Casey Robinson

6' 6"
Junior
F
Brandon Walker

#22 Brandon Walker

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
Liam Gibcus

#32 Liam Gibcus

6' 10"
Freshman
F/C
Donnie Lao

#30 Donnie Lao

6' 3"
Junior
G
Drew Robinson

#11 Drew Robinson

6' 1"
Junior
G