MONMOUTH, Ore. – Each time Alaska Anchorage seemed to make a comeback, the Western Oregon University men's basketball team had an answer. After the Seawolves surged back to take a lead in the second half, WOU closed the game on a 25-15 run to take the 80-71 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory over Alaska Anchorage Saturday night inside New PE Gym.
"Tonight's win over a very good Alaska Anchorage team is a by product of a great week of competitive practices by the guys," head coach Wes Pifer said. "This was a total team effort. Cam was special down the stretch. Yosani, Elihu and Collin all made big plays after their run at the 10-minute mark of the second half."
Over the final few minutes of the game with UAA (6-3, 1-1 GNAC) still within a couple of possessions, Cameron Cranston took over. He connected on back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead out to 12 and seal the victory for the Wolves. Those two shots were part of a big game for Cranston as he went for a team-high 23 points, making 8-15 from the field, 5-8 from three, along with four rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in playing all 40 minutes. Elihu Cobb played big minutes off the bench tallying 16 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Yosani Clay also posted double-digits in scoring with 11 points. John Morrill-Keeler added nine points and Daisone Hughes with eight points were close to recording double-figures as well.
It was a hot shooting night for the Wolves (3-6, 2-0 GNAC) connecting on 31-56 (55.4) from the field, 10-17 (58.8) from three and 8-11 (72.7) from the foul line. WOU held the edge on points off turnovers (21-10), bench points (24-8) and points in the paint (36-34). The Wolves forced 14 turnovers in the game and committed just seven.
Baskets by Hughes and Tyreek Price helped move WOU out to the early 4-0 lead a minute in. The lead stretched to five at 11-6 on a layup by Clay off a steal and assist by Cranston.
UAA responded going on an 8-0 run to take a 14-11 lead at the 12:43 mark of the opening half. The Seawolves pushed the lead out to five at 27-22 when WOU answered back and took control the remainder of the half.
A three-point-play by Morrill-Keeler helped ignite a 10-0 run. Cranston added a jumper and following two free throws by Morrill-Keeler, Price connected on a triple for the 32-27 lead. Still holding a four-point lead, WOU closed the half on a 5-0 run with Cobb sending down a big dunk off an assist by Price and after a free throw by Cranston, Cobb came up with a big rebound and put back right as the buzzer was sounding to move WOU to a 39-30 halftime lead.
WOU had the advantage out to 12 points just over five minutes into the second half on another three-pointer by Cranston. Just when it looked like the Wolves were ready to run away with it, UAA came back with a blistering 11-0 run in just over two minutes to get to within a point. Eventually the run stretched to 13-0 and had the Seawolves with a 56-55 lead near the midway point of the half.
Another dunk by Cobb off an assist from Qiant Myers put WOU back in the lead for good. Cranston hit a foul shot and then off of a tip-in by Cobb, Collin Warmouth capped the run with a three-pointer to push WOU out to a 63-56 lead.
UAA then made one final push pulling to within six at 71-65 with just under three minutes to play. That's when Cranston took over hitting back-to-back three-pointers to move the lead out to 12 with just a minute to play and help lead WOU to the nine-point victory.
Oggie Pantovic led UAA with 26 points and 11 rebounds. David Rowlands tallied 14 points and Hunter Sweet added 11 points. The Seawolves shot 29-61 (47.5) from the field, 12-26 (46.2) from three and attempted just two free throws, going 1-2 (50).
WOU will remain at home this coming week when they will face Corban next Saturday (Dec. 11) starting at 4:15 p.m. inside New PE Gym.
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Clutch Plays Down The Stretch Leads Men's Basketball To 2-0 Start In GNAC Play - WOU Athletics
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