Cavs spoil Seawolves’ debut in new arena
ANCHORAGE—Playing the visitors' role while the University of Alaska Anchorage opened the doors to the Alaska Airlines Center, the No. 25-ranked Concordia University men's basketball team grabbed the first win in the new building with a 79-74 victory on Friday.
Concordia's (3-0)
Anthony Holton (Portland, Ore./Sunset H.S.) recorded the first points in the 5,000-seat space with a jumper in the first minute, but the Cavaliers quickly found themselves down by double digits as the Seawolves connected on several early 3-point attempts.
UAA (0-1) increased its lead to 16 points, 35-19, on Travis Thompson free throws at the 4:57 mark, but would be held to just eight points down the stretch as the Cavs crept back to within six at the break following a
Tyler Velasquez (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty H.S.) layup at the buzzer.
Moments into the second half, Velasquez struck for back-to-back 3-pointers while
Kory Kirwan (Hillsboro, Ore./Glencoe H.S.) collected an offensive board and finished off the second-chance opportunity with a jumper to square the game at 45-45.
Not relinquishing its lead just yet, UAA rattled off a 17-4 run to make it a 62-49 edge with 12:44 remaining.
Mimicking the first half, the Cavaliers owned the final minutes, using defensive stops to pile on a 30-12 spree to stun the opening-night crowd.
"We fought off poor shooting in the first half by maintaining our defensive intensity," CU head coach
Brad Barbarick said. "We knew that when we start making shots we would be right in there."
After shooting 43.2 percent in the first half, Concordia shot 57.1 percent in the final 20 minutes, including making 5 of 9 from long range.
Two rebounds shy of a 'double-double', senior
Thomas Pierce (Gary, Ind./Roosevelt H.S.) led all players with 21 points. Velasquez finished with 18 while Holton (15) and
Esvan Middleton (Culver City, Calif./Culver City H.S.) (12) gave the Cavs four scorers—all seniors—in double figures.
Middleton stuffed the box score for the second straight outing by adding seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block to his game-day resume.
"We had some timely play in the second half. Thomas (Pierce) and Anthony (Holton) were fantastic around the basket and we had great energy from our bench," Barbarick said.
Thompson, a senior guard, led UAA with 18 points while teammate Sjur Berg, a freshman forward, added 13 points and six rebounds.
Concordia will remain in Alaska to face the Seawolves again on Saturday. Opening tip is set got 7 p.m. local time.
"We are happy with the win but now we have to turn around and match that energy again. They (UAA) know that they can play better so they will get after us. It's like the national tournament where you have to play the next night after an emotional win. There isn't time to relax," Barbarick said.