Senior guard Tyler Payne scored 15 points and added 5 assists and 3 steals in the victory. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
WWU Men Rally to Defeat Alaska Fairbanks 70-62
January 25, 2019
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Junior Trevor Jasinsky recorded another 20-point performance and freshman Jalen Green had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead Western Washington University to a 70-62 victory over Alaska Fairbanks Thursday evening in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The Vikings battled back from a six-point halftime deficit where they trailed 28-22, scoring 48 points on 17-for-26 shooting (65.4%) in the second half for the eight-point victory. WWU has won three of its last four games to improve to11-8 overall and 5-4 in GNAC play. UAF dropped to 4-12 overall and 1-8 in conference play with its seventh consecutive loss.
In addition to Jasinsky’s 23-point effort and Green’s second career double-double, senior point guard Tyler Payne contributed one of his best performances of the season with 15 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Payne was 6-for-12 from the field while playing 36 minutes.
Jasinsky finished with 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting, recording his GNAC-best 11th 20-point game of the season.
Junior forward Michael Kluting led Alaska with a game-high 27 points on 9-for-15 shooting, also recording 12 rebounds for his league-best fifth double-double of the season. Junior Tymoryae Glover added 15 points on 7-for-15 shooting.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Jalen Green recorded his second double-double of the season, adding to his 11-point, 11-rebound performance in the victory over Saint Martin’s on Jan. 5…Trevor Jasinsky played all 40 minutes and leads the GNAC averaging 34.6 minutes per game…the 22 first-half points were the fewest scored by the Vikings in the opening 20 minutes of a contest since being limited to 21 points on Feb. 25, 2016 at Seattle Pacific (lost 58-51)…WWU was 11-for-20 from the free throw line (55.0%) after entering the game as one the nation’s top free-throw shooting teams at 78.0% for the season (now at 77.7%)…WWU recorded its third win this season when trailing at the half (3-5)…WWU is now 10 wins short of 1,500 in program history…WWU is 6-2 in Carver Gym this season (5-6 away from Bellingham).
JASINSKY KEEPS POURING IT IN
Trevor Jasinsky recorded his 11th 20-point game of the season, leading all GNAC players…Jasinsky has now scored in double-digits in 13 consecutive games and 18 of 19 contests in 2018-19…most 20-point games by a Viking since Taylor Stafford (20) in 2016-17…Jasinsky is averaging 19.6 points (2nd in GNAC) and 7.3 rebounds per game (4th)…has now made 121 career 3-pointers, 14th-most in WWU history.
SECOND-HALF SURGE
The Vikings came alive in the second half, out-scoring the Nanooks 48-34 to record the 8-point victory. UAF extended its lead to 7 points at 32-25 early in the half, but WWU quickly erased the deficit going on a 10-1 run to grab a 37-35 lead at the 14:49 mark. After Alaska tied the game 37037, the Vikings would lead the rest of the way, growing the lead to as many as 10 points with under four minutes remaining in the game. WWU bounced back to shoot 65.4% in the second half, connecting on 17-of-26 shots.
SLOW-STARTING FIRST HALF
The Vikings went into the half with a six-point deficit at 28-22, with Alaska Fairbanks using an 11-0 run to build their lead. WWU led 15-11 at the 12:58 mark, but UAF scored 11 consecutive points and held the Vikings scoreless over a four-minute stretch to take a seven-point lead. WWU battled back with a 7-2 run to trail by two points at 24-22, but the Nanooks scored the last four points of the half to carry the 28-22 lead into intermission. Trevor Jasinsky led all players with 13 first-half points, connecting on 5-of-8 shots (3-for-6 3FG). Overall WWU was just 9-for-30 (30.0%) from the field in the half, compared to a 44.4% shooting performance (12-for-27) by Alaska.
ALL-TIME SERIES
WWU improved to 33-14 all-time vs. Alaska Fairbanks, winning its third straight vs. the Nanooks…WWU is 11-1 in its last 12 games vs. UAF in Bellingham.
UP NEXT
The Vikings return to action Saturday hosting Alaska Anchorage (10-7, 5-4) at 3 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
-- @WWUHoops --
