FAIRBANKS, Alaska (Dec. 5) – The Central Washington University men's basketball team fell to Alaska, 82-71, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game.  The Wildcats are now 4-2 on the season and 0-2 in GNAC play.
 
"We dug ourselves too big a hole," CWU Head Coach Greg Sparling said.  "A 46-24 deficit at half is hard to get out of.  When you don't shoot the ball so well and you end up 31.3% from the field you dig yourself a big hole.  We came out a bit flat."
 
Drake Rademacher scored the Wildcats' first 11 points.
 
"He had a big night for us," Sparling said of his center.   "We went to him early and he posted up strong.  He had some good jump hooks and rebounds for us.  He had a good game." 
 
Rademacher finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. 
 
The Wildcats led 14-12 before Almir Hadzisehovic converted a layup, evening the score with 13:42 to play in the first half.  The Nanooks offense found its rhythm and did not look back, stretching the lead to 22 heading into the locker room at half.
 
"In the second half we played the way we are capable of playing, but was too late," Sparling added.  "We cut the lead down to six and we had our chances.  A missed three here and a rebound there and we missed our chance." 
 
The Wildcats went on an 8-0 run in the second with a layup by Rademacher and a pair of threes by Joey Roppo and Terry Dawn. 
 
Dawn finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds.  Roppo added 14 points , one steal, and six boards.
 
The Wildcats recorded six unanswered points later in the second half, cutting the deficit to six at 53-47.  Chris-Michael Garrett, Niam Ladd, and Joseph Stroud each recorded points during the run.
 
Central Washington tried to keep the score close, but empty possessions allowed the Nanooks to stretch their advantage.  The Wildcats shot 8-for-34 from beyond the arc.
 
"We took some quick ones tonight, no doubt," Sparling added on his team's efficiency from beyond the arc.  "We also took some open looks and they didn't go down.  We had probably a half dozen in and outs that didn't go for us."
 
Central went 4-for-14 from beyond the three-point line in the second half as the Wildcats tried to battle back.
 
"Were we a bit three happy? No doubt," Sparling noted.   "But when you're down it's natural to pull up for 3's. The game got away from us a bit."
 
The Wildcats out rebounded Fairbanks 20-16 in the second half and 37-33 for the game.
 
"In the second half the guys did a much better job taking care of the basketball," Sparling noted.
 
The Wildcats will be back in action on December 17, as they host Quest University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.