Nanooks set defensive record in victory over PSCC

Submitted by Dave Geringer
Phone: (907) 474-6807
11/07/04

After tying a record in Head Coach Frank Ostanik’s debut Thursday evening, the University of Alaska Fairbanks men’s basketball team went one better Saturday afternoon.

The Nanooks broke their all-time record for fewest points allowed, defeating Puget Sound Christian, 105-37 at the Patty Center.

The previous record of 41 points allowed was set against Saint Martin’s during the 1979-80 season, and tied Thursday night when UAF downed PSCC, 111-41.

The Nanooks scored 40 of the game’s first 44 points, led 29-4 midway through the first half and 42-4 with 6:55 left in the first half, and held a 62-9 lead at the intermission. The Anchors made just two of 20 shots from the field in the first half, while Alaska Fairbanks connected on 56.8 per cent of their shots.

UAF outscored Puget Sound Christian, 24-6 at the start of the second half and led by 77 points, 95-18, with 7:46 remaining. For the game, the Nanooks shot 50 per cent from the field on 36 of 72 shots, held PSCC to 24 per cent on 12 of 50 shots, owned a 62-23 edge on the boards, and used 17 steals to force 28 turnovers.

For the second consecutive game, senior guard Brad Oleson (North Pole, AK/North Pole HS/Peninsula College) was UAF’s leading scorer. Oleson led the Nanooks with 23 points, making nine of 12 shots from the field. Freshman guard Mike Titus (Fairbanks, AK/Lathrop HS) made six of 11 shots from the field and scored 16 points, junior center Andrew Smith (Anchorage, AK/Bartlett HS) added 12, junior forward Justin Bourne (Fairbanks, AK/Lathrop HS) scored 11, and freshman guards Junior forward Ivan Miskovic (Belgrade, Serbia/Monroe Catholic HS) and freshman guard Chris Jordan (Houston, TX/Milby HS) and Kenny Barker (San Diego, CA/Clairemont HS) added 10 points apiece. Barker and Jordan each had eight rebounds, and Barker and Oleson had five assists each.

Bennett Olsson led the Anchors with 12 points, and Glen Suckow added 10.

"I liked the fact that we came out and played hard and played with some spirit,"? said Ostanik. "We played to the level of our ability, and we didn’t make it into an ugly game. We do need to improve on some things. We need to value the ball better, and we need to do a better job of staying in front of people defensively. Our trademark is defense and toughness, and we have to display that each and every game, and we have to get better."?

The Nanooks improved to 2-0 with their victory, while PSCC dropped to 1-2 with the defeat. UAF will return to action when they host the first game of the 2004 BP Top of the World Classic at the Carlson Center Thursday evening, Nov. 18.