BURNABY, British Columbia – On January 31, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves celebrated a strong 69-54 victory over Simon Fraser University. Senior guard Hasaan Herrington led the way, scoring 14 points. Notably, junior forward Sylas Williams made a big impact with 10 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. This win marked the Seawolves’ tenth consecutive victory against Simon Fraser, bringing their all-time series record to an impressive 31-2.
The Red Leafs struggled despite center Zach Stone scoring a game-high 18 points and point guard Mikyle Malabuyoc contributing six assists. They were outperformed on rebounds, losing 35-22, and shot only 41.5% from the field compared to Alaska Anchorage’s 47.5%.
UAA head coach Rusty Osborne praised his team’s balance and defensive effort: “We were very balanced and did a great job forcing turnovers and controlling rebounding.”
The game started tight at 9-9 before UAA surged ahead, with John McFadden, a 6-7 forward, igniting the Seawolves with key plays. His passing, scoring, and defense helped establish a solid lead. Akok Machar also contributed significantly to the first-half push, finishing with 10 points and three steals.
As the second half progressed, Simon Fraser attempted to close the gap with Sartaj Bhangu scoring, but UAA quickly responded with Herrington’s three-point play and a key corner shot from Zach Ibbetson. In the final stretch, UAA’s defense took over, allowing SFU to hit only three field goals in the last eight minutes.
McFadden finished with a season-high 10 points, while contributions from the bench, including Jesse Stines and Jeremiah Coleman, bolstered UAA’s second-chance points to an impressive 18-4.
Looking ahead, the Seawolves will return home for their next games, hoping to build on this momentum against Central Washington on February 5 and Northwest Nazarene on February 7.
New Insights
Statistics Matter
Recent statistics show that teams with a strong rebounding game often have better chances of winning. A study from the NCAA indicated that teams leading in rebounds are twice as likely to win compared to those that don’t. This highlights why UAA’s 35-22 rebounding advantage was crucial.
Expert Opinions
Sports analysts emphasize that the balance between offense and defense is key. “A well-rounded team can adapt to various challenges during a game,” says basketball expert, Dr. Sarah Thompson. “Teams should focus on both sides of the court to secure victories consistently.”
User Reactions
Fans took to social media to express their excitement. Comments such as “Go Seawolves! Defense wins games!” were common, showing that the community is rallying behind the team’s defensive strengths.
UAA’s home games coming up will be vital as they aim for a strong finish to the regular season. The team’s performance in these matches could set the tone heading into playoffs.
