ANCHORAGE (Nov. 15) – Junior guard Cole Johnson scored four of his 15 points in the final four minutes, including a pair of critical free throws with 24 seconds remaining, to help the Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team secure a 70-65 victory over Hawaii Pacific on Saturday in the Alaska/Hawaii Challenge at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (3-2) also got 14 points, five rebounds and three assists from senior forward Bishop Tosi as they outscored the visitors 14-4 on second-chance points.

The Sharks (0-1) got 14 points from guard Quentin Meza and 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists from forward Quinton McCullough in their season opener.

"I was pleased with our poise and the maturity our guys showed in a very tight game," said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne. "We fought hard on the boards and answered their big shots down the stretch with great execution and clutch free-throw shooting."

Playing a rare game in the Alaska Airlines Center's auxiliary gymnasium, the Seawolves went back and forth throughout a first half that stayed within two possessions the whole way. The Sharks forged a 30-28 lead at the break, but UAA answered with a huge surge over the first 6:15 of the second half, going up 48-37 on a Johnson three-pointer.

The visitors from Honolulu came back to earn a 48-48 tie on two free throws by Josh Niusulu at the 9:42 mark, only to see the Seawolves surge ahead for good on two Tosi two free throws and an Akok Machar 17-foot jumper.

The teams continued to trade baskets the rest of the way, with the Sharks cutting their deficit to one point on five occasions. After Hasaan Herrington's putback layup made it 66-63 with 53 seconds left, Meza responded with a short jumper in the lane, and the Sharks sent Johnson to the line for a one-and-one with 24 seconds showing.

The JC transfer coolly knocked down both charities, and UAA got a defensive rebound from Elijah Mobley when Nemanja Sernac's three-point attempt bounced off the rim with 2.7 seconds left. Mobley canned both free throws for the final margin as UAA finished 16 of 17 from the line.

Johnson shot 5 of 9 from the field and 3 of 7 from deep, along with four assists and just one turnover in 31 minutes.

Tosi shot 4 of 6 from the field and 6 of 7 on free throws, grabbing all his boards on the offensive end. Machar continued his streak of five straight double-digit scoring efforts with 11 points, six rebounds and three steals, while junior forward Sylas Williams had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists in his first full game as a Seawolf.

Herrington collected eight points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Seawolves return to the Alaska Airlines Center for the final game of the Alaska/Hawaii Challenge, presented by Alaska Airlines, on Saturday at 4:30 pm against Chaminade. Find tickets and live links at GoSeawolves.com.