Nanook Men’s Basketball lose first home game

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - After 62 days of NCAA basketball, the Nanooks men’s team finally played their first home game of the season on Thursday.

Northwest Nazarene played as the opposing team at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium in the Patty Center. This was also the first time these two teams would compete against each other this season.

In the first half, the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks fought hard and gathered an 8 point lead come half time. In the first half the ‘nooks held higher stats in three pointers and free throws however, NNU had a better field goal percentage which gave them the lead.

In the second half both teams put up 40 points which would lead to and end score of 77-69 and NNU kept their 8 point advantage. By the end of the game, stats percentages told the same story.

For UAF, it was Willie Thomas III that led the team, this is how the players looked at an individual level:

Willie Thomas III: 9 rebounds, 2 personal fouls, 2 assists, 2 turn overs, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and 18 points.

Koby Huerta: 3 rebounds, 4 personal fouls, 0 assists, 2 turn overs, 0 blocks, 1 steal, and 9 points.

Quin Barnard: 4 rebounds, 1 personal fouls, 3 assists, 3 turn overs, 0 blocks, 1 steals, and 6 points.

Abdullahi Mohamed: 3 rebounds, 2 personal fouls, 1 assists, 0 turn overs, 0 blocks, 0 steals, and 6 points.

Coleman Sparling: 8 rebounds, 4 personal fouls, 2 assists, 2 turn overs, 0 blocks, 1 steals, and 4 points.

Shadeed Shabazz: 2 rebounds, 3 personal fouls, 2 assists, 2 turn overs, 0 blocks, 3 steals, and 16 points.

Tybenn Sturm: 2 rebounds, 4 personal fouls, 0 assists, 0 turn overs, 1 blocks, 0 steals, and 6 points.

Jahvonta Jones: 2 rebounds, 1 personal fouls, 0 assists, 1 turn overs, 0 blocks, 0 steals, and 4 points.

The Nanooks were supposed to have their first game at home back on December 18th, when they were scheduled to play Portland Bible College. However that game was cancelled and the following next home games were all postponed for various reasons.

UAF returns to the court Saturday for the men as the take on Central Washington University.