Western Michigan defeats UAF

Submitted by Dave Geringer
Phone: (907) 474-6807
11/22/04

University of Alaska Fairbanks men’s basketball coach Frank Ostanik said he could see it coming. And, with six minutes left in the first half, it happened.

Western Michigan outscored the Nanooks, 18-2 during the final 5:39 of the first half, took a 49-22 halftime lead, and defeated UAF, 88-65, on the final day of action at the 2004 BP Top of the World Classic Sunday evening at the Carlson Center.

The Nanooks, who led only once on a jumper by senior forward Andrew Smith (Anchorage, Alaska) that made it 2-0, had recovered from an 8-0 Bronco run and closed to within 31-20. But UAF could muster only a jump shot by senior guard Brad Oleson (North Pole, AK/North Pole HS/Peninsula College) with 4:40 remaining, while WMU began their run with a free throw by Stanes Bufford and capped with the last 17 points of the half. Ben Reed led the way with two jump shots and a pair of free throws, Levi Rost contributed a layup and a three-pointer, and Joe Reitz and Rickey Willis each added a pair of free throws.

UAF outscored the Broncos in the second half, 43-39, but could come no closer than 18 points.

Oleson led all scorers with 19 points, and Andrew Smith added 17. Reed led WMU players in double figures with 17 points, Rost had 14, Silver Laku had 13 and Reitz had 11. Reitz also had 11 rebounds as the Broncos outrebounded UAF, 49-27.

"There are a number of times when you know something is coming, and I could see it coming tonight," said UAF Head Coach Frank Ostanik. "I’m disappointed, even though we did play better in the second half. We have to do a better job of defending on the ball. They had kids who are bigger and stronger."

"The lid finally came off the basket tonight," said Western Michigan Head Coach Steve Hawkins. "Alaska Fairbanks played some very good basketball the past two nights, and I felt good about the way we played tonight. Our conference is a very physical conference, and we recruit kids that play that way as part of our program. We’ve got nine kids who can bench press over 300 pounds."

WMU improved to 1-2 with the victory, while the Nanooks dropped to 2-3 with the defeat. The Broncos finished the tournament in seventh place, while UAF finished eighth.