Scoreboard

Wiggs, Hammell help Seawolves slay Dragons

Men's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Wiggs, Hammell help Seawolves slay Dragons

ANCHORAGE – Junior guard Suki Wiggs scored 33 points and junior forward Corey Hammell tallied a double-double Friday to pace Div. II Alaska Anchorage to a 71-65 upset of Drexel in the GCI Great Alaska Shootout consolation semifinals at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Hammell had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while senior forward Christian Leckband chipped in 11 points for the Seawolves, who have now beaten at least one Div. I opponent for the 31st time in 38 tournaments. It marked the 37th victory all-time in the program's premier event, although it will count as an exhibition for the Seawolves under the NCAA's discretionary exemption rule.

The Dragons (0-5) – for whom the game counted regularly – were led by 20 points and six assists from reserve guard Sammy Mojica. The visitors from Philadelphia outrebounded UAA 49-38 but were hurt by major foul trouble, with seven of their eight players picking up at least three fouls, and two fouling out.

UAA forged a 40-36 halftime lead and withstood a Drexel run that gave the Dragons a 50-48 edge on Rodney Williams's dunk with 12:08 to play. The teams traded leads until Wiggs put the Seawolves up for good with a three-pointer at the 8:41 mark that made it 58-56.

Another Wiggs trey gave UAA a 65-68 edge with 5:12 left, and Drexel could not cut it to a one-possession game the rest of the way.

After scoring 35 points in Thursday's 75-72 first-round loss to Middle Tennessee, Wiggs shot 11 of 27 from the floor – including 7 of 17 on three-pointers – in Friday's winning effort, along with six rebounds, two assists and no turnovers in 37 minutes.

Counting the Seawolves' two discretionary exhibition in this week's tournament, the transfer from Div. I Idaho now has scored at least 20 points in each of his first 11 games at UAA, including three 30-plus performances.

Meanwhile, Hammell did most of his damage from the charity stripe, where he made 12 of 16 shots. The transfer from Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College also added a pair of assists and no turnovers while playing 37 minutes.

Junior guard Diante Mitchell led the hosts with five assists and just one turnover, while junior wing Spencer Svejcar had five points and four rebounds.

With their victory, the Seawolves (6-3) advance to Saturday's 2 p.m. 4th/6th-place game against San Jose State (2-3). That contest will count as a regular game for both teams.

Drexel will take on San Diego (0-5) in Saturday's noon 7th-place contest.

Print Friendly Version

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
Spencer Svejcar

#20 Spencer Svejcar

G
6' 4"
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
Spencer Svejcar

#20 Spencer Svejcar

6' 4"
Junior
G
Sekou

#2 Sekou 'Suki' Wiggs

6' 4"
Junior
G