FAIRBANKS, Alaska (Nov. 10) – Senior guard Tyson Gilbert scored a career-high 27 points and junior forward Bishop Tosi delivered a monster double-double in his first game against NCAA Div. II competition to help Alaska Anchorage hold on for a 77-72 men's basketball victory over Chaminade on Friday in the Alaska/Hawaii Challenge at the Patty Center.

The Seawolves (3-0) got 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 14 rebounds from Tosi – plus nine points, four rebounds and a huge late block from fellow hometown transfer Hasaan Herrington – as they snapped a six-game losing streak against their most common non-conference rival.

The Silverswords (0-1) were led by 16 points from guard Isaac Amaral-Artharee, but the Honolulu squad was turned aside on its final two offensive possessions.

"Tyson and Bishop put up big numbers tonight, and we were fairly sharp offensively for this early in the season, but this win was possible because of solid rebounding and some great team defense, especially when things got tight in the final minute," said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne. "I'm really proud of the way we responded every time they made a run, and we put ourselves in position to win because we only committed three turnovers in the second half."

After going down to the last second in last year's game, Friday's rematch was another tightly contested affair. The entire game was played within an 11-point margin and featured five ties and 11 lead changes, although UAA led for 33:14 compared to just 5:04 for Chaminade.

The Seawolves forged a 38-33 advantage behind 16 first-half points from Gilbert, who finished 8 of 14 overall, 5 of 8 on threes and 6 of 6 at the foul stripe, bettering his previous career best by five points.

The final 20 minutes were a two-possession affair for all but 26 seconds, with UAA equaling its largest second-half lead at 68-61 on a three-pointer by Gilbert with 6:09 remaining. Chaminade answered with a 9-2 run to tie it on a three-pointer from Jamir Thomas with 3:56 left, but the Silverswords shot just 1-of-7 from the field and missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity the rest of the way.

The Seawolves extended to 75-72 edge on two free throws by Jaron Williams with a minute left, then got the defensive play of the game when Herrington – a 6-2 guard from East Anchorage High School – rose up in the lane to swat Ross Reeves' layup attempt.

UAA missed a chance to ice it when Ross stole the ball with 21 ticks on the clock, but a corner three-pointer by Amaral-Artharee bounced off the rim and into the hands of UAA's Dillon Barrientos, who dished downcourt to a streaking Herrington for a clinching dunk with three seconds left.

Tosi – a former Bartlett High star and recent transfer from Bellevue (Wash.) College – shot 8 of 12 at the foul stripe and grabbed six of his rebounds on the offensive end. The 6-6, 235-pounder also drew 10 of the 23 fouls committed by the Silverswords.

Herrington – who transferred from fellow D-II program Texas-Tyler – shot 4 of 8 from the field, while fellow East Anchorage High alum Williams finished with seven points (4-4 FT).

Senior forward Sawyer storms shot just 1 of 6 from the field, but the honorable mention All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference performer dished eight assists without a turnover, and grabbed six rebounds.

The Seawolves return to the Patty Center on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip against Hawaii Pacific. Surf to GoSeawovles.com for links to live video and stats.