by FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks men’s basketball game bounced back against Trinity International (Ill.), as it won, 70-67, in its final exhibition game before the start of the regular season.
Ruben Silvas (Pascua Yaqui) led all scorers with a game-high 16 points while Almir Hadzisehovic scored 13 points and had a game-high 10 rebounds to complete a double-double. Hadzishovic was also 5-5 from the free throw line.
The Nanooks were solid in the first half, as they took a 34-24 lead into the break. But Trinity pushed the Nanooks into a stick sitution in the second half, outscoring Alaska 43-36. Trinity had a chance to tie the game in the closing stages of the game, but the Nanooks rendered any hope of that turmoil extinct with lockdown defense in forcing one of Trinity’s 15 turnovers.
Silvas, who produced a masterpiece offensively, was nearly perfect from the field, as he shot 8-10 and was 8-9 from inside the arc. The guard also grabbed six rebounds and produced a team-high three steals.
Trinity’s Nate Ball, who was yesterday’s dominant player, was kept quiet today as he only scored four points from the field (nine overall) and had only nine rebounds. Alaska made a point of being more physical inside, as they out-rebounded the Trojans 48-31 and scored 26 points in the paint.
The Nanooks next competes in the GCI Alaska Invitational next weekend, with games against Black Hills State, West Alabama and Minnesota State Moorhead.
