FAIRBANKS, Alaska (Jan. 24.) —The Central Washington University men's basketball team (12-4, 7-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) went on a late 12-2 run to overcome a six-point deficit and pull out a 74-70 win at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (5-12, 2-7 GNAC) Saturday.
 
"When we needed to get stops, we got stops and we went out and executed down the stretch," explained CWU head coach Greg Sparling. "Our guys did a nice job finishing the game."
 
Coupled with a 77-68 win at the University of Alaska Anchorage Thursday, this became just the third time in CWU men's basketball history that the Wildcats have visited Alaska and come away with a pair of victories, the other times being in 2010 and 2011.
 
"It's huge to get a sweep up here and I couldn't be more proud of our guys," Sparling added. "In every given way someone contributed tonight."
 
However, it did not look like a sweep was going to happen, as the Nanooks, who trailed early by as many as 13 points, took a 68-62 lead with 3:40 left in the game. But Joseph Stroud, who had been hampered with foul difficulty throughout game, tipped in a missed shot by Dom Williams and followed that up with a takeaway and bucket as CWU regained the lead with just a minute left.
 
"The big steal and dunk by Joseph got us motivated," Sparling noted.
 
Stroud added, "I saw how much time I had [to get to the loose ball], so, after I made a play on the ball, it was a steal and layup. I'm glad we held on for the win."
 
Stroud then followed up his dunk by stopping Nanook guard Ashton Edwards' drive to the hoop. Stroud rebounded Edwards' missed shot and, as CWU hit three of four free throws in the final minute, the Wildcats secured the victory.
 
Williams led CWU with 15 points. Jordan Russell added 14. Stroud scored 12 points, including hitting on all five of his second half field goal attempts. He was the GNAC field goal percentage leader (73.2%) heading into the game.
 
Stroud admits to being frustrated by only playing seven minutes in the first half after committing two fouls.
 
"My teammates told me to stay together, stay involved in the game, keep my head and keep my composure and it time it will come," Stroud pointed out.
 
With the victory, CWU ended the first half of the season in second place in the GNAC standings.
 
"We're happy, but this team can still get better," Sparling said. "Five of our next nine are out on the road. It's going to be a battle every night. It's going to come down to the last weekend to see who wins this thing [GNAC regular season]."
 
Central's next game is Saturday at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.