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Seawolves surge past Sharks in Fairbanks

Men's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Seawolves surge past Sharks in Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS – Junior guard Suki Wiggs scored 26 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:24 to play, to lift Alaska Anchorage to a 69-65 victory over Hawaii Pacific in the GCI GNAC/Pac West Challenge at the Patty Center on Saturday.

The Seawolves (5-2) also got 14 points and nine rebounds from senior forward Christian Leckband, who sealed the victory with two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining. Junior forward Corey Hammell had 13 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double, along with three steals, to help UAA to its fourth straight win.

The Sharks (0-2) were led by 21 points and seven rebounds from Chauncey Orr, while Joel Feigler added 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

UAA led by 26-25 at halftime and extended to a 39-34 advantage on Hammell's three-pointer at the 15:52 mark. The Sharks stormed back with a 14-2 run of their own over the next seven minutes and seemed to be taking control until Wiggs got to the line for two free throws, followed by a Leckband three-pointer to make it 48-46.

Orr sank one of his five three-pointers to put HPU ahead 55-49 with 5 minutes on the clock, but Diante Mitchell fed Leckband for another three-pointer, and the pair switched roles on the next trip to knot the score.

After Jordan Martin's three-pointer gave HPU a 58-57 edge with 3:08 remaining, Wiggs answered with a trey of his own – his only one of the game – and added two free throws moments later. Martin made one of two free throws to cut the Sharks' deficit to 64-62 with 42 seconds left, but Wiggs then found Hammell for a layup on a backdoor cut. Hammell was fouled and completed three-point play with 15 seconds to go, and HPU stayed alive on a fall-away trey by Orr with 4.5 on the clock. Leckband was fouled on the inbounds pass and swished both charities to ice the win.

A transfer from Div. I Idaho, Wiggs shot 8 of 18 from the floor and 9 of 10 at the free-throw line to register his seventh straight 20-plus scoring effort – extending his UAA record to start a career. The Seattle native added five rebounds and four assists, while Mitchell finished with seven points, three assists and no turnovers in 35 minutes.

UAA returns home next weekend to host the annual Seawolf Jamboree at the Alaska Airlines Center. Action tips off Friday at 5 p.m. with Alaska Fairbanks against Cal State Dominguez Hills, followed by UAA against Life Pacific at 7 p.m. For ticket information, visit GoSeawolves.com or call 907-786-1562.




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Players Mentioned

Christian Leckband

#1 Christian Leckband

F
6' 5"
Freshman
Corey Hammell

#25 Corey Hammell

F
6' 6"
Junior
Diante Mitchell

#11 Diante Mitchell

G
6' 1"
Junior
Sekou

#2 Sekou 'Suki' Wiggs

G
6' 4"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Christian Leckband

#1 Christian Leckband

6' 5"
Freshman
F
Corey Hammell

#25 Corey Hammell

6' 6"
Junior
F
Diante Mitchell

#11 Diante Mitchell

6' 1"
Junior
G
Sekou

#2 Sekou 'Suki' Wiggs

6' 4"
Junior
G