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Crusaders edge Seawolves in OT, 100-93

Men's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Crusaders edge Seawolves in OT, 100-93

NAMPA, Idaho – Alaska Anchorage senior guards Travis Thompson and Derrick Fain combined for 65 points but host Northwest Nazarene made the big plays in overtime to earn a 100-93 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball victory Saturday at the Johnson Sports Center.

The Seawolves (14-12, 10-6) led 79-73 late in regulation before the Crusaders ended with an 8-2 run to force the extra session.

The result drops UAA out of second place in the GNAC standings and into a tie for fourth with NNU (12-14, 10-6) with two games left in the regular season.

The Crusaders put six players in double figures, getting 29 points and nine rebounds from forward Alex Birketoft, who scored his team's final 11 points in regulation. Senior Kevin Rima added 19 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late.

Tied 79-79 in the final minute, Thompson took the ball at the three-point arc and drove for an off-balance layup to give UAA the lead with 29 seconds left. But NNU set up Birketoft for a 17-foot baseline jumper to tie it with 13 seconds on the clock. UAA senior Boomer Blossom missed a midrange jumper as the clock wound down and Travis Parrish's putback attempt went off the backboard as time elapsed.

Freshman center Brian Pearson gave UAA the lead with two free throws to start the extra session before the Crusaders took control. Birketoft gave his team an 85-83 edge with a basket at the 3:08 mark, and guard Aubrey Ball stretched it to 93-87 with a three-pointer at the 1:24 mark. The hosts then made seven of eight free throws to clinch it from the stripe and earn a split of the season series, following UAA's 67-57 win in Anchorage last month.

Thompson poured in 33 points on 7-of-10 three-point shooting as the former Dimond High star became the GNAC's all-time leader in three-pointers made, now with 295. Meanwhile, Fain continued his hot shooting with identical three-point accuracy, pouring in 32 points in 29 minutes.

Junior guard Brian McGill added eight points and six assists for the Seawolves, while freshman forward Sjur Berg came off the bench with six points and four rebounds.

The Seawolves end the regular season with a pair of home games next week, starting Feb. 26 against GNAC regular-season champ Western Oregon. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center.


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Players Mentioned

Boomer Blossom

#RS Boomer Blossom

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Travis Thompson

#11 Travis Thompson

G
6' 1"
Freshman
Brian McGill

#RS Brian McGill

G
6' 2"
Sophomore
Sjur Berg

#2 Sjur Berg

F
6' 7"
Freshman
Derrick Fain

#14 Derrick Fain

G
6' 4"
Senior
Brian Pearson

#35 Brian Pearson

F
6' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Boomer Blossom

#RS Boomer Blossom

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Travis Thompson

#11 Travis Thompson

6' 1"
Freshman
G
Brian McGill

#RS Brian McGill

6' 2"
Sophomore
G
Sjur Berg

#2 Sjur Berg

6' 7"
Freshman
F
Derrick Fain

#14 Derrick Fain

6' 4"
Senior
G
Brian Pearson

#35 Brian Pearson

6' 8"
Freshman
F