NAMPA - Ranked ninth nationally and first in the NCAA West Region, the Universiy of Alaska Anchorage defeated Northwest Nazarene University 77-59 on Thursday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game in Nampa.

 

Led by the game-high 31 points of UAA point guard Luke Cooper, the Seawolves improved to 23-4 overall and 14-1 in GNAC action.

 

The Crusaders, who fell to 16-8 overall and 8-7 in league play, were led by Justin Parnell and Kendall Gielow who each scored 12.

 

UAA shot an impressive 60.4-percent (29-48) from the floor, including a 12-for-20 effort from the three-point line, led by Cooper's seven-for-nine performance from the arc.  The Seawolves out-rebounded the Crusaders 25-23 and Cooper posted the games only double-double, handing out 10 assists.

 

The Crusaders shot 55.6-percent (25-45) from the field and were six-of-14 from the three-point line (42.9-percent), but comitted 13 turnovers to the Seawolves eight and were an uncharacteristic three-for-nine from the free throw line.

 

NNU will host Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday night in the final home game of the season for the Crusaders.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., with a short ceremony prior to tip-off to honor NNU's lone senior, Jason Simmons.

 

Newspaper Box Score
#9 Alaska Anchorage vs Northwest Nazarene
2/28/08 7pm at Nampa,Id
At Nampa,Id
#9 ALASKA ANCHORAGE 77, NORTHWEST NAZARENE 59
#9 ALASKA ANCHORAGE (14-1 GNAC, 23-4)
Cooper,Luke 11-17 2-3 31; Olsen,McCade 4-10 4-6 12; White,Kevin 4-6 0-0 11;
Bryant,Chris 4-6 0-0 10; Arts,Carl 3-5 1-3 7; Trueman,Jeremiah 2-2 0-0 4;
Ridgeway,Lonnie 1-1 0-0 2; Hardy,Doug 0-0 0-0 0; Burney,Cameron 0-1 0-0 0.
Totals 29-48 7-12 77.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE (8-7 GNAC, 16-8)
Gielow,Kendall 6-10 0-0 12; Parnell,Justin 5-9 0-3 12; Helpenstell,Scott 4-4
0-1 8; Roberts,Tyler 3-5 0-0 8; Simmons,Jason 3-5 1-2 7; Ryman,Joel 2-4 0-0
6; Barkdoll,Brian 1-4 0-1 2; Beech,Louie 1-3 0-0 2; Burk,Tippy 0-0 2-2 2;
Mgebroff,Matt 0-0 0-0 0; McGovert,Morgan 0-0 0-0 0; Shildmyer,Adam 0-1 0-0
0. Totals 25-45 3-9 59.
#9 Alaska Anchorage...........   44   33  -   77
Northwest Nazarene............   28   31  -   59
3-point goals-#9 Alaska Anchorage 12-20 (Cooper,Luke 7-9; White,Kevin 3-5;
Bryant,Chris 2-3; Burney,Cameron 0-1; Olsen,McCade 0-2), Northwest Nazarene
6-14 (Parnell,Justin 2-5; Ryman,Joel 2-3; Roberts,Tyler 2-3; Beech,Louie
0-2; Gielow,Kendall 0-1). Fouled out--#9 Alaska Anchorage-None, Northwest
Nazarene-Ryman,Joel. Rebounds-#9 Alaska Anchorage 25 (Arts,Carl 7),
Northwest Nazarene 23 (Parnell,Justin 6). Assists-#9 Alaska Anchorage 19
(Cooper,Luke 10), Northwest Nazarene 12 (Parnell,Justin 4). Total fouls-#9
Alaska Anchorage 14, Northwest Nazarene 12. A-589