Box Score

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Free throw after free throw, the Nanooks slowly slipped away.

A vast disparity at the free-throw line proved insurmountable for the Crusaders who suffered their first setback of the season Thursday night, falling 77-72 against host Alaska in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

The Nanooks shot 34 charity tosses to just 12 for the Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team, which looks to bounce back Saturday when the Crusaders play at Alaska Anchorage at 4 p.m. (Mountain time).

"We didn't play our best and we were still in the game until the end," said NNU head men's basketball coach Scott Flemming.

Down eight early, a Detwon Rogers bucket capped a 9-0 charge by the Crusaders (3-1 overall, 0-1 GNAC), who would trade the lead back and forth with the host Nanooks (5-2, 1-0) 14 times in the contest.

The last NNU advantage came with 4 ½ minutes remaining on the game clock after a 3-pointer by Mike Wright put the Crusaders on top, 64-63.

But free throw after free throw, Alaska inched its way back in front.

One charity toss from Brandon Davis tied the score, then Almir Hadzisehovic added two more free throws for a 66-64 Nanook edge.

Rogers, who led all scorers with a game-high 25 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds for NNU, tied the game at 66-66 with two Crusader free throws — NNU went 8-of-12 at the line — before the Nanooks inched away for the victory.

With 3 minutes left, a pair of Bangaly Kaba free throws broke the eighth and final tie of the night, then Alaska chipped in five more free throws to help ice the victory.

"Our half-court defense was effective, we just gave up way to many second-chance points," Flemming added, as Alaska scored 22 second-chance points off 21 offensive rebounds including Hadzisehovic's free throws and four more freebies down the stretch.

Wright added 16 points and eight assists for the Crusaders and Joel Devastey had six points and nine boards for NNU, which outshot Alaska 46.7 percent to 35.7 percent from the field, but was hampered by 27 fouls.

"We were able to score but turned the ball over too often," NNU's coach said of 23 Crusader giveaways.

"These are areas (offensive rebounds and turnovers) we need to clean up to compete in this league."