by FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanook men’s basketball team concluded the GCI Alaska Invitational with a 74-52 loss to Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday night at the Patty Center.
Ruben Silvas (Pascua Yaqui Tribe) scored a team-high ten points and was named as Alaska’s representative to the all-tournament team. For the Dragons, who went 3-0 for the weekend and were named tournament champions, Urbane Bingham was named to the all-tournament team and Jordan Riewer was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
Tonight, Riewer scored 26 points and hit six three-pointers while also dishing out a game-high six assists.
The Nanooks were all over the Dragons in the opening few minutes and would even lead by as many as 13 halfway through the opening period. In that stretch, the Nanooks made 5-of-6 three-pointers, forcing Minnesota State Moorhead to burn two first-half timeouts.
Unfortunately, after the 9:51 mark, the Dragons took control of the game, and as the Nanooks cooled from the field, Riewer and MSUM found their grove. Riewer went 4-4 from beyond the arc and 6-7 from the field to close out the first half, giving MSUM a 38-32 lead.
In the second half, the Nanooks shot just 27.6% (8-29) from the field and made just one three-pointer on eight attempts. Conversely, the Dragons shot 44.8% (13-29) and made six three-pointers to pull away.
Alaska now embarks on a six game road trip, beginning with the Notre Dame De Namur Tournament next weekend when it takes on Notre Dame De Namur and Holy Names in Belmont, California.
