BILLINGS, Mont. – Junior center Oggie Pantovic scored 16 points, including the game-winning layup with 2.7 seconds remaining, to lift the Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team to an 81-80 victory over Montana State Billings on Thursday at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Seawolves (13-8, 6-4 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got 16 points apiece from guards Tyrus Hosley and Tobin Karlberg as they overcame an 11-point deficit with 12:23 remaining.

The Yellowjackets (8-9, 3-6) were led by 25 points and 10 rebounds from Zharon Richmond, but the hosts committed 24 turnovers and could not capitalize on a 41-32 rebounding advantage.

"That was an extraordinarily gutsy effort by our guys tonight," said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne, whose team was playing its fourth game in four states in eight days, including a return trip to the Lower 48 following Tuesday's home win over Alaska Fairbanks. "Down by double figures in the second half, we continued to stick to our plan and not panic, and our big-time shooters hit some big-time shots in the clutch. We will be happy to get home and get some rest this weekend as we get ready for the second half of league play."

Looking for their second GNAC road win in five tries, the Seawolves trailed 41-38 at halftime and 51-48 with 16 minutes left. The Yellowjackets would stretch their advantage to 62-51 over the next four minutes, taking their largest lead on a layup by Brendan Howard, who finished with 19 points.

UAA answered immediately with a run of its own when Hosley scored at the 12-minute mark and then grabbed one of the Seawolves' season-high 15 steals, feeding Keegan Crosby for a three-pointer to make it 62-56.

Hosley and Pantovic hit back-to-back layups to draw within 64-62 with 9:30 remaining, and Pantovic fed Karlberg for a layup that tied it 71-71 with 5:35 left.

After UAA grabbed a one-possession lead, Howard nailed a corner trey to put his team back up, 79-78, only to see Seawolf forward Niko Bevens respond with a 23-footer at the 2:14 mark.

Richmond gave the Yellowjackets an 80-79 edge with two free throws with 1:15 remaining and Pantovic missed a layup on the other end, but Hosley stole the ball with 25 seconds left to set up a wild final offensive possession. Following a missed transition layup by DeAndre Osuigwe, Hosley grabbed three straight offensive rebounds and eventually found himself open for a long three-pointer, which rimmed into the hands of Pantovic, who banked in the game-winner.

Following a Yellowjacket timeout, Pantovic deflected the inbounds pass and grabbed the ball as time expired.

Pantovic shot 6 of 12 from the floor as the Serbian scored double figures for the ninth straight game, along with six rebounds and a career-high four assists.

Karlberg shot 6 of 10 from the field and 4 of 4 from long range, plus three assists, one block and a career-high five steals, while Hosley grabbed six rebounds, made all seven of his free throws and collected a career-best four steals.

Bevens finished with 11 points (3-8 3FG), while Osuigwe had six points and three steals.

Now alone in third place with 10 games remaining in the GNAC race, the Seawolves get a rare Saturday off before hosting Saint Martin's at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. Surf to AlaskaAirlinesCenter.com for tickets.