Feb. 14, 2008

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Center Carl Arts scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, lifting nationally ranked University of Alaska Anchorage to an 81-69 victory over Western Washington University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball game Thursday on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

The Vikings, who suffered their third consecutive loss and fifth in seven games, fell to 12-9 overall and 5-7 in the GNAC. Guard Ira Graham (Jr., Fontana, CA) had 20 points to lead Western, which lost for just the second time in 10 games at Carver Gym this season.

UAA, ranked No.5 in latest National Association of Basketball Coaches NCAA II Top 25 and No.1 in West Region, improved to 20-3, with all three losses to Division I schools, and extended its school-record winning streak to 18 games. The Seawolves, who shot 72.0 percent (18-of-25) from the field in the second half, lead the GNAC at 11-0 and have won a school-record nine straight road games.

Western held a 31-26 lead at halftime, and were up by eight, 39-31, with 16:52 to play. But the Seawolves scored on eight of their next nine trips up the floor to key a 17-3 run and took a 46-42 lead with 11:49 to play. Arts had 10 points in the charge, hitting five straight shots from the field.

The Vikings were still within two, 56-54, on a layin by center Steve Severin (So., Richland/Hanford) with 7:16 remaining, but UAA went on an 11-2 run capped by a layin and free throw by Chris Bryant and opened up a 67-56 lead with 4:11 to go. Western got no closer than five points after that.

Forward Calin Schell (Jr., Chelan) had 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for Western, and Severin had 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. The Vikings had a 37-27 advantage in rebounds, but committed 20 turnovers, their second-highest total of the season.

All five UAA starters scored in double figures. Forward McCade Olsen had 16 points, Bryant added 13 and forward Cameron Burney added 11. Guard Luke Cooper, a finalist for the 2008 Bob Cousy Award honoring the top point guard in college basketball, had 10 points and 10 assists.

The Seawolves hit 50.9 percent (28-of-55) from the field, including 50 percent (7-of-14) from 3-point range.

Western, which entered the game shooting a school-record pace low 61.4 percent (299-of-487) at free throw line after leading the nation in that category two years ago, was 8-of-16 (50.0 percent) on free throws Thursday.

Western entertains University of Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday (7 p.m.) in a GNAC counter.