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Bulls fend off Seawolves for 1st-round win

Men's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Bulls fend off Seawolves for 1st-round win

ANCHORAGE – Buffalo guard Blake Hamilton poured in 36 points and grabbed eight rebounds Wednesday to help the Bulls hold off a late charge from host Alaska Anchorage and earn an 85-79 victory in the first round of the GCI Great Alaska Shootout at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Bulls (3-1) also got 14 points and seven rebounds from forward Nick Perkins to earn a win in their first-ever trip to the 39th annual college basketball tournament.

UAA – the preseason favorite in the NCAA Div. II Great Northwest Athletic Conference – was led by 17 points and seven assists from senior point guard Diante Mitchell, plus 16 points and six rebounds from senior center Connor Devine. The game was played as a discretionary exhibition for the Seawolves, meaning it does not count on their overall regular-season record.

Hamilton's 36 points – which came on 12-of-24 shooting – equaled the eighth-highest single-game total in Shootout history.

The game stayed a single-digit contest the entire way, with UAA rallying to take a 42-41 lead on a three-pointer by Suki Wiggs at the 15:06 mark. Mitchell was fouled on a made three-pointer and completed the four-point play to make it 46-43, but the Bulls would rally with the next seven points.

After Buffalo stretched to a 57-49 advantage, the Seawolves would cut it twice to a one-possession game, the last time at 76-73 with 49 seconds left. Hamilton split two free throws with 42 seconds, but Mitchell committed a turnover and the hosts could get no closer.

With its victory, Buffalo advances to Friday's 5:30 p.m. AST semifinal game against the winner of the Oakland and Nevada, while the Seawolves will play the loser of that game in the consolation semifinals at noon Friday.

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Players Mentioned

Diante Mitchell

#11 Diante Mitchell

G
6' 1"
Junior
Sekou

#2 Sekou 'Suki' Wiggs

G
6' 4"
Junior
Connor Devine

#30 Connor Devine

F/C
6' 10"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Diante Mitchell

#11 Diante Mitchell

6' 1"
Junior
G
Sekou

#2 Sekou 'Suki' Wiggs

6' 4"
Junior
G
Connor Devine

#30 Connor Devine

6' 10"
Senior
F/C