Saint Leo tops UAA again, 71-63

ANCHORAGE (Dec. 17) – The Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball team came all the way back from a 12-point deficit Wednesday but couldn’t finish the job as Saint Leo earned a 71-63 win over the Seawolves at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

UAA (3-7) was led by an 18-point, 11-rebound effort from sophomore guard Brandon Walker, while sophomore Lonnie Ridgeway had a career-high-tying 14 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Saint Leo (6-5) got a near-flawless showing from junior forward Josue Vazquez, who led the Floridians with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in 36 minutes.

Forward Kyle Rowland scored 14 points for the Lions, who handed the Seawolves their first back-to-back losses at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex since Feb. 2005. Saint Leo won Tuesday’s game 74-62.

This was a tighter affair, however, as the Seawolves rebounded from a 36-24 deficit late in the first half.

Senior center Jeremiah Trueman had all 10 of his points and six of his seven rebounds after halftime to keep UAA within striking distance, and the Seawolves finally tied it 53-53 on a Ridgeway layup with 5:36 to play.

But Vazquez then earned a pair of free throws on Saint Leo’s next possession and Rowland followed with a nifty bank shot in traffic to retake the lead for good, and the Lions clinched it from the free throw line.

On a night when neither team was hot from three-point range, free throws made all the difference, with Saint Leo sinking 22 of 31 and UAA going 9 of 12.

UAA outrebounded the Sunshine State Conference foe for the second straight night, 38-32, led by Walker’s career-high 11.

Walker played all 40 minutes in the first start of his Seawolf career, shooting 7 of 14 and dishing three assists. Fellow backcourt newcomer Darren Nye also had his first start and responded with easily his best performance – 11 points (4-8 FG), five assists and no turnovers in 27 minutes.

Leading scorer Kenny Barker was held in check again, however, grabbing seven rebounds but finishing with only six points – 11 under his average – on 3-of-11 shooting.

The Seawolves are back in action Saturday when they host Rockhurst (Mo.) in the AT&T Alascom Jamboree. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., following the UAA women’s game against Cal State Stanislaus.