ANCHORAGE (Nov. 17) – Senior guard Dathan Satchell led a balanced scoring effort with 16 points and the Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team rode a stifling defensive performance to an 83-32 victory over UC Merced on Friday at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (5-0) also got 13 points from senior forward Sawyer Storms and 10 points from senior guard Tyson Gilbert as they outshot the visitors .561 to .256, allowing the fourth-fewest points in program history.

The Bobcats (1-2) – who won 21 games a year ago and took NCAA Div. I UC Riverside to the brink in a 76-69 exhibition loss last week – were led by 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting from reserve guard Cameron Brown, but the rest of the NAIA squad made just six of 35 shots from the floor.

"I was really pleased with our defense tonight, which is really going to be our identity this season," said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne. "Merced is a much better team than the score indicated tonight, and we did a great job of executing our scouting report and not giving them any life once we made our early run. We also got a lot of good experience for our young players, and it was nice to see Dathan break out offensively."

Despite the fine shooting night for UAA, the hosts took a while to get going. The Seawolves trailed 5-4 after five minutes, but Satchell scored in the lane to start a 14-0 run, and the onslaught continued until halftime. UAA led 39-9 at the break, marking the second-fewest points allowed in any half in program history, and the fewest in a home game.

The Seawolves opened the second half with a 16-2 run and pushed their largest lead to 79-24 on a trey by Satchell with 3:25 remaining.

A Preseason All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference pick, Satchell broke out of an early slump with 6-of-11 overall shooting and 4-of-8 three-point accuracy. The California native also grabbed five rebounds and dished three assists.

UAA got a big early boost from its two freshman post players, with Sloan Lentfer notching seven points and 10 rebounds for his first-double digit stat performance, and Lyman Simmons contributing 8 points (3-4 FG) and three boards.

Senior forward Jaron Williams had nine points (4-5 FG), two assists, no turnovers and two steals, and junior point guard Dillon Barrientos finished with seven points, six assists and just one turnover.

The Seawolves and Bobcats meet for a rematch Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center. Find tickets, live links and more at GoSeawolves.com.

UAA Record Book -- Fewest Points Allowed
1. 28 vs Portland Bible, 12/29/22
2. 30 at Carver Bible, 12/30/99
    30 vs Lancaster Bible, 11/5/06
4. 32 vs UC Merced, 11/17/23
5. 34 vs Portland Bible, 11/2/19
6. 35 at Western New Mexico, 2/11/99
7. 36 vs Portland Bible, 11/4/16
    36 vs Portland Bible, 12/28/22
9. 38 at Seattle University, 1/24/08
    38 vs Grand Canyon, 12/12/09