After losing to the other Alaska team on Thursday, SFU bounced back big time on Saturday against the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks. The team cruised to a 88–55 victory in a game with multiple strong performances.
While the second half was the defining period of the game, the Clan did manage to get off to a good first half. Starting with a 9–2 run, it was clear that SFU meant business. The starters continued to pour it on, getting off to a 14-point lead relatively quickly, and the teams would eventually go into the half with the home team leading 36–26.
Julian Roche and Wilfried Balata both had strong halves, leading the team with 10 and 14 points respectively. For the Nanooks, Tymoryae Glover led all scorers with 15 points.
The Clan made quick work of their opponents in the second half, pulling away with more than a 20-point lead seven minutes into the half. They would eventually cruise to a 88–55 win, although they led by as much as 39 at one point.
Five SFU players were in double figures in this one: Roche (19), Balata (16), Michael Provenzano (14), Othniel Spence (13), and Drew Bryson (11).
With the win, the Clan now have a 3–7 conference record, and a 9–9 record overall. Given the dogfight that is the GNAC playoff picture, the team still has a shot to make the postseason if they can put together a bit of a streak.
Peak player of the game: Julian Roche
As he’s done so often this season, Roche dominated the paint in this one. He played a team-high 35 minutes, and led the team in points with 19 and rebounds with nine. He also put up his numbers efficiently, going 8–13 from the floor (including a three), and 2–2 from the free-throw line.
What’s next:
The Clan will now hit the road as they travel to face the 6–4 Seattle Pacific University Falcons and the 9–1 and conference-leading Saint Martin’s University Saints. First off is Seattle, where they play on Thursday night. Tipoff is at 5:15 p.m.
