Scoreboard

Wiggs's 35 not enough as Blue Raiders prevail

Men's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Wiggs's 35 not enough as Blue Raiders prevail

ANCHORAGE – Junior guard Suki Wiggs scored 35 points for host Alaska Anchorage but it was not enough to help the Seawolves complete a huge comeback in a 75-72 loss to Middle Tennessee in the first round of the GCI Great Alaska Shootout at the Alaska Airlines Center on Thursday.

The Blue Raiders (2-1) were led by 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks from reserve forward Perrin Buford, while sophomore guard Giddy Potts pumped in 16 points on 3-of-5 three-point shooting.

Played under the NCAA's discretionary exemption rule, the game counted for the Div. I visitors but was an exhibition for the Div. II Seawolves. Junior guard Spencer Svejcar added 14 points and three steals for UAA, while junior point guard Diante Mitchell finished with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals.

After leading 35-31 at halftime, the Blue Raiders extended their advantage to 62-47 with 7 minutes remaining before UAA mounted a furious rally. Wiggs hit a three-pointer and converted a traditional three-point play to start the surge, and the transfer from Div. I Idaho hit another trey at the 2:03 mark to give the Seawolves a 66-65 lead.

Middle Tennessee retook the lead at 69-66 when Quavius Copeland converted two free throws and Reggie Upshaw drove for a layup on consecutive possessions with a minute remaining.

Svejcar got a good look for a corner three-pointer with 43 seconds to play, but it rimmed in and out, leading to a parade to the free-throw line for the Blue Raiders.

The Seawolves got one final chance to tie after Potts sank two free throws with 3.1 seconds left, but his desperation three-pointer from 40 feet bounced off the backboard.

With their win, the Blue Raiders advance to Friday's 8 p.m. semifinal against the winner of the late contest between Drexel and UNC Asheville. UAA will play the loser of the Dexel-Asheville game in the consolation semifinals at 2 p.m. Friday.

NOTES: Wiggs's 35 points tied for 13th on the 38-year-old tournament's single-game scoring list and were the most scored in a regulation-length GCI Shootout game since Washington State's Klay Thompson set the record with 43 points against San Diego in the 2009 title game … Wiggs's effort ranked also tied for third on UAA's single-game Shootout scoring list, trailing only Peter Bullock (37 pts vs Wyoming, 2002) and Jesse Jackson (37 pts vs Iowa, 1986), and equaling Jason Kaiser (35 pts vs Wake Forest, 1993).

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Diante Mitchell

#11 Diante Mitchell

G
6' 1"
Junior
Spencer Svejcar

#20 Spencer Svejcar

G
6' 4"
Junior
Sekou

#2 Sekou 'Suki' Wiggs

G
6' 4"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Diante Mitchell

#11 Diante Mitchell

6' 1"
Junior
G
Spencer Svejcar

#20 Spencer Svejcar

6' 4"
Junior
G
Sekou

#2 Sekou 'Suki' Wiggs

6' 4"
Junior
G