Wetern Oregon Upsets UAA, 81-73

Travis Kuhns led WOU with 22 points and 12 rebounds while swatting five shots.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Western Oregon got a near perfect evening from point guard Alex Swerzbin and his Wolves got offensive against the league's top defensive team during an 81-73 men's basketball win over host Alaska Anchorage in front of 1,286 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex on Thursday night.

The result dropped the No. 6 regionally ranked Seawolves to 13-6 on the season and to 4-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Western Oregon improved to 7-12 this year and is now 2-6 in the GNAC.

Just two weeks ago, UAA stopped WOU cold during a 70-49 freeze out in Monmouth.

The Wolves shot 56 percent from the field and scored 81 points against a Seawolves team that gives up only 62 points a contest on average.

Swerzbin was one Wolf who was red hot, hitting eight of nine shots from the field, including three of three from trey land to finish with 22 points.

He didn't miss a shot of any kind until just five minutes remained, missing a free throw attempt that also ended a streak of 24 consecutive charity makes.

Travis Kuhns was as brilliant in a different way, tallying 22 points and 12 rebounds while swatting five shots.

Jacob Mitchell added 14 points and seven boards, while Larry Hall was also in double figures with 11.

McCade Olsen had 20 points to lead the hosts, while Joe Davis had 18.

Luke Cooper handed out 13 assists for UAA.

The two clubs took turns on hot runs in the first half. UAA had a 10-0 run early (11-4), but WOU countered with a 14-2 run of its own.

UAA then answered with an 11-3 blitz, and would then hold off another late Wolves run to take a 37-30 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Seawolves tough defense forced WOU into 14 first half turnovers, but Swerbzin's 12 points kept the club close.

That trend continued in the second half, as WOU came flying out of the gates with a comeback run.

After back-to-back baskets by Adonal Arrington off the bench, Swerzbin nailed a three-pointer to put WOU up 46-45, and then the two squads would trade buckets all the way down to the final minutes.

But after the Wolves hit back-to-back three-pointers at 1:37 (Hall) and :50 (Dominique DeWeese), WOU would take a 75-70 lead and never trail again.

WOU will now take on Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, while Alaska Anchorage will host Saint Martin's.

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