January 23, 2010
Fairbanks, AK – Cole Daniel sank two free throws with no time left on the clock to seal a 77-76 Alaska Fairbanks win over Saint Martin’s in Great Northwest Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Patty Center.
The Nanooks came barreling out of the gate in the first half. Alaska Fairbanks used an 18-0 run to build up a 24-4 advantage, holding the Saints scoreless for nearly seven minutes. The Saints kept battling and finished the half on a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to 39-25 at the half.
Saint Martin’s came back with a vengeance in the second half scoring nine of the first 11 points in the half to make it a 41-34 game just minutes in.
Galen Squiers cut the Nanook lead to four, 53-49, with 12 minutes left as he hit his four trey of the half. The Saints continued to rally cutting the UAF lead to one and taking their first lead as Blake Poole sank five free throws in a row.
The two teams continued to exchange the lead until Squiers hit the rare four-point play to give the Saints a five point, 70-65, lead.
Alaska Fairbanks trailed 76-72 in the final minute but Emmanuel Jenkins hit a three-pointer to make it 76-75 and set up the winning play for UAF.
“Adversity always shows the true character of a team,” said head coach Keith Cooper. “We played even better as a team and worked even harder when things weren’t going our way. We turned it around and played really good ball the last 30 minutes.”
Poole finished the game with a double-double scoring 26 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Squiers added 20 points for the Saints while Jared Howard tallied 13.
UAF was led by Jenkins with 27 points and Jon Moe with 25. The Nanooks picked up their first conference victory of the season, improving to 1-4 in the GNAC while the Saints drop to 1-5.
Saint Martin’s has a small break before taking on Central Washington University on Saturday, January, 30, at the Marcus Pavilion.