Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – Alaska Fairbanks erased a four-point deficit in the final minute to force a seemingly never-ending overtime session and eventually wore out host Northwest Nazarene, topping the Crusader men's basketball team, 108-104, in triple overtime.

"I couldn't be prouder of the men's effort tonight," NNU coach Dave Daniels said. "UAF hit two incredibly tough 3s in regulation to force OT."

Mario Donaldson, who scored a career-high 24 points, gave NNU (5-16 overall, 3-10 GNAC) a 65-61 lead with a basket with 57 seconds left and a 67-63 edge on two free throws with 32 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Nanooks (14-8, 9-5) still rallied.

Ronnie Baker tied it for UAF, 69-69, with a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, forcing overtime, but only after the Crusaders had their shot to win it.

Mario Donaldson drove and missed a game-winner with 2 seconds left, then Grayson Moore was called for an offensive goal-tend trying to tip-in the rebound.

"Mario had a great look at the rim to end the game and it just didn't go down," Daniels said.

Once into the extra sessions, NNU managed to pull off a pair of six-point comebacks, wiping out a 77-71 UAF lead in the first overtime, and an 86-80 Nanook advantage in the second OT.

Michael Loomis tied the first extra session, 80-80, with a basket with 23 seconds left and a Derek Isaak 3-pointer put NNU up 89-88 with 1:02 remaining in the second overtime, which ended in a 91-91 tie.

In the third and final overtime, the Nanooks came out firing as 3-pointers by Joe Slocum, Sergej Pucar and Ronnie Baker put the Crusaders in an early 100-95 hole they couldn't dig out of.

Donaldson added six assists for NNU, which also got 22 points from Isaak and 16 points and 14 rebounds from Grayson Moore.

"Mario had the best game of his career and Grayson played 51 minutes and grabbed 14 rebounds on a bad ankle," Daniels said.

Moore sprained his ankle at Alaska Anchorage on Jan. 16 and missed four games. He then reinjured his ankle early in the second half of NNU's game at Western Oregon on Monday, yet still was able to play Thursday against UAF.

Michael Loomis chipped in 15 points, Kevin Rima added 14 points and Matyas Hering scored 13 for the Crusaders, who are back in action Saturday when they host Alaska Anchorage at 7 p.m.