FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Central Washington University men's basketball team battled into the second half but couldn't slow a late push from Alaska Fairbanks, falling to the Nanooks 89-81 Saturday evening at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium.
 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington 81, Alaska Fairbanks 89
• Records: CWU (11-12, 5-7 GNAC), UAF (11-11, 6-7 GNAC)
• Location: Alaska Airlines Gymnasium (Fairbanks, Alaska)

 
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON RINTA:
 
"We didn't have it defensively tonight. The team battled back from a rough start and kept fighting all game, but UAF is too good, offensively, for us to expect to beat them up here with that level of defensive execution."
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Nanooks opened quickly with an early three-pointer from Tyriq Luke, and an 11-3 run to take the first significant lead of the afternoon. The Wildcats answered behind strong scoring from Chae Haynes and second-chance opportunities, gradually erasing the deficit and eventually grabbing a brief first-half lead after a steal from Haynes led to an Xavier Kamalu-Vargas fast-break layup.
• The closing minutes of the first half turned into a back-and-forth stretch with multiple lead changes, but UAF used late baskets in the paint to carry a narrow 44-41 advantage into halftime.
• Coming out of the break, the Nanooks scored on consecutive possessions to push the margin to eight, forcing CWU to chase early in the second half.
• Central responded with one of its best stretches of the game with a 21-10 run capped by a Jalen Childs layup and a Bradley Swillie jump-shot to give the Wildcats a 62-59 lead midway through the period.
• Fairbanks immediately countered with a run of its own, capitalizing on turnovers and transition scoring to reclaim the lead and extend it to multiple possessions.
• In the final minutes, the Nanooks consistently attacked the rim and drew fouls, converting at the charity stripe while holding off a pair of late three-pointers from Jordan Clark to seal the 81-89 result.

 
 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Chae Haynes led the Wildcats with 23 points, while recording 12 rebounds for a double-double, along with a steal and an assist.
• Bradley Swillie scored 18 points and logged five rebounds and one steal
• Jordan Clark logged 15 points, an assist, a steal, and a rebound.
• Jalen Childs recorded 10 points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• Xavier Kamalu-Vargas tallied six points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
• Eli Williams logged four points, two assists, and two rebounds.
• Garrett Marrs recorded three points and two rebounds.
• Jamari Harris tallied two points, two steals, and two rebounds.
• The 'Cats finished the game shooting 44.4 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from three, and 76 percent at the free-throw line.
• Davis Crilly led the Nanooks with 20 points, seven rebounds, and a steal. Three other players for UAF scored double digits, including Jalai O'Keith (18), Mike Miller (13), and Tyriq Luke (13).
• The Nanooks finished the game shooting 51.6 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from three, and 90 percent from the free-throw line.
• Fairbanks won the rebound battle by a 39-33 margin.

 
 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• Central leads the all-time series 52-24.
• The teams split the season series 1-1.
• CWU is 21-14 against UAF in Fairbanks.

 
 
UP NEXT:

• The Wildcats return home for a two-game homestand starting on Thursday, Feb. 12 against Montana State Billings. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.