Hot Fairbanks Shooting Seals Falcons' Fate, 99-87
March 4, 2004

SEATTLE (Mar. 4) – Brad Oleson poured in 31 points to pace hot-shooting Alaska Fairbanks to a 99-87 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball win over Seattle Pacific University at Brougham Pavilion Thursday night.

With their ninth straight win, the Nanooks (13-4, 20-6) clinched no worse than second place in the conference and probably clinched a second straight trip to the NCAA Division II tournament. Dustin Bremerman (Fr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) scored a season-high 30 points for the Falcons (10-7, 14-12), who had a five-game win streak snapped and saw their faint postseason hopes dashed.

Alaska Fairbanks, which had lost 16 straight in the pavilion dating back to 1985, shot a blazing 67 percent (37-55) from the field, making 13 of 16 three-pointers. Oleson hit 9-11 shots from the field, made 6-7 treys and also added 10 assists.

Oleson connected on three consecutive three-pointers and scored 12 UAF points during a 14-3 surge early in the second half. His tip-in gave the visitors their biggest lead at 69-50.

Seattle Pacific, which hit 24 of 26 free throws and shot a respectable 54 percent (27-50), was hampered by 21 turnovers. Still, it trimmed the gap to 71-61 with 8:59 left with Jason Chivers (Jr. 6-8, Los Angeles) capping a run of nine unanswered points. But the comeback stalled at that point and SPU pulled no closer until the final minute when a Bremerman three-point play made it 94-87 with 32 seconds to go.

Bremerman was 9-12 from the floor and 5-7 outside the arc. Chivers added 14 points and nine rebounds. The Falcons had a 30-16 advantage in rebounds. For Fairbanks, Andrew Smith had 21 points before fouling out.

The Nanooks parlayed torrid shooting with an effective full-court defense to lead 49-39 at halftime. Down 16-11, they went on a 24-4 run, hitting 8-9 field goals during one stretch. Fairbanks sank 9-10 three-pointers, taking a 35-20 lead after 12 minutes. Ryan Jones and Oleson each hit three treys while Bremerman kept SPU in contention with 14 first-half points, including four three-pointers.

The regular season concludes Saturday night at 7 when SPU hosts Alaska Anchorage.

ALASKA FAIRBANKS 99, SEATTLE PACIFIC 87

ALASKA FAIRBANKS (13-4; 20-6) Oleson, Brad 9-11 7-8 31; Smith, Andrew 10-16 1-2 21; Jones, Ryan 6-9 1-2 16; Crawford, Norris 5-6 0-0 12; Smith, Chris 3-5 2-4 10; Sconiers, Jocquis 1-5 1-2 3; Below, Tristan 1-1 0-0 2; Bourne, Justin 1-1 0-0 2; Miskovic, Ivan 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 37-55 12-18 99.

SEATTLE PACIFIC (10-7; 14-12) Bremerman,Dustin 9-12 7-8 30; Chivers,Jason 4-12 6-7 14; Lee,Jordan 4-9 2-2 12; Binetti,Tony 4-4 3-3 11; Williams,Chad 2-3 2-2 7; Steele,Ralph 2-6 2-2 6; Knudson,Jeff 1-2 0-0 3; Bushmaker,Mike 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-50 24-26 87.

Halftime: Alaska Fairbanks 49, Seattle Pacific 39. 3-point goals-Alaska Fairbanks 13-16 (Oleson, Brad 6-7; Jones, Ryan 3-5; Crawford, Norris 2-2; Smith, Chris 2-2), Seattle Pacific 9-19 (Bremerman,Dustin 5-7; Lee,Jordan 2-5; Knudson,Jeff 1-2; Williams,Chad 1-2; Steele,Ralph 0-3). Fouled out--Alaska Fairbanks-Smith, Andrew, Seattle Pacific-Binetti,Tony. Rebounds-Alaska Fairbanks 16 (Jones, Ryan 3; Smith, Andrew 3; Below, Tristan 3), Seattle Pacific 30 (Chivers,Jason 9). Assists-Alaska Fairbanks 27 (Oleson, Brad 10), Seattle Pacific 16(Binetti,Tony 5). Total fouls-Alaska Fairbanks 23, Seattle Pacific 20. A-750