FAIRBANKS, AK – Simon Fraser University senior point guard Sango Niang scored 35 points but it wasn't enough as the Clan lost 121-111 to Alaska Nanooks in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball game Saturday in Fairbanks, AK.
 
Niang (Paris, France) connected on eight three-pointers, going 8-of-16 from three-point range, and added eight assists in 30 minutes.
 
Trailing by as many as 11 points early in the second half, Niang hit a three-pointer and guard Hidde Vos followed with layup to pull the Clan to within one point, 70-69, with 14 minutes left in the game.
 
Alaska pushed its lead back out to 17 points with five minutes left before the Clan went on a 18-7 run to get to within six points with two minutes left. But Alaska made its free throws down the stretch to clinch the victory.
 
"Sango played well tonight individually but basketball is a team game and we have to become a more well-rounded team on the road," said head coach James Blake.
 
It was the second straight loss for the Clan, who fell to 1-2 in the GNAC, 6-5 overall. Alaska improved to 2-2 in conference play, 5-7 overall.
 
Thursday, SFU lost 108-86 to Alaska Anchorage.
 
"This was a tough road trip for the team after the Christmas break," said Blake.
 
"We played better today but we still turned the ball over in crucial times. We played behind all weekend and expended a lot of effort in our press playing catch up."
 
Guard Justin Cole (Los Angeles, CA) added 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting and guard Adam Westfall (Gresham, OR) had 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
 
SFU connected on just 20 of 55 three-pointers (36.4%) while Alaska was 12-of-21 (57.1%) on three-pointers. Alaska out-rebounded the Clan 50-39 and scored 37 points from its bench. Ruben Silvas led the Nanooks with 34 points.
 
Alaska went on a 19-7 run to close out the first half for a 57-46 lead at the break.
 
The Clan returns to action in the West Gym for conference games against Seattle Pacific University (January 8) and Montana State Billings (January 10). Tip-off is 7:00 PM both games.