Box Score

Burnaby, BC – It was a heartbreaking finish on Thursday night in the West Gym as the Simon Fraser University men's basketball team fell against the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves 65-64.

"We played a really good game. We thought we had the win until the very end and it came down to who wanted it more in those seconds," said senior forward Ibrahim Appiah (Montreal, QC). "It was a tough ball game and it just got away from us."

Appiah earned a double-double in the contest, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Leading the Clan in scoring, Justin Cole (Los Angeles, CA) earned 18 points on the night. Taylor Dunn (Vancouver, WA) and David Gebru (Seattle, WA) also hit double-digits, adding 13 and 11 respectively.

Topping the scoreboard, guard Travis Thompson led the Seawolves to victory with 25 points.

Despite the loss, SFU shot 49 percent from field goal range while AAU shot 35 percent. Beyond the arc, the Clan shot 39 percent to the Seawolves' 28 percent.

Free throws proved to be the home side's downfall, as UAA shot 88 percent while SFU shot just 64 percent from the line.

Cole knocked down a three-pointer on the Clan's first possession of the game, igniting his team.

SFU would take off on a 12-0 run, gaining a 23-6 edge with 12:10 to go until halftime.

The Seawolves mounted a comeback, answering with a 14-2 run to come within five of the Clan, bringing the score to 32-27 with 3:32 on the clock.

However, the home team didn't falter, expanding their lead once again to nine as the Clan led 41-32 edge at the break.

Continuing to test their opponents, UAA pressured SFU throughout the second half.

With 14:36 remaining, the Seawolves earned their first lead of the game, 46-45.

The game came down to the wire, as neither team led by more than one possession through the final seven minutes of play.

With the visitors up by one with 1:44 to go, Cole laid the ball in to put the Clan up 64-63.

Playing for the last shot, UAA answered with a layup of their own, taking back a one point edge with four seconds left.

Facing the Seawolves' full court press, Sango Niang (Paris, France) ran the ball down the court to shoot-off a final three-pointer, but could not convert as time expired.

With the loss, the Clan's record falls to 8-10 overall and 1-9 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

The Clan will continue their home-stand on Saturday, February 1 when the face the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks at 7:30 p.m.

"We played a good game and have some very good things to take away. We know that we can win games, this basketball team can win games," finished Appiah.