Sports

Thompson's 28 carries UAA to 7th place in Shootout

In a game that some day may remembered as the coming-out party for two freshman Seawolves, senior Travis Thompson went out with a bang in his final Great Alaska Shootout game.

Thompson torched Rice University for 28 points to lead the UAA men's basketball team to a 65-54 victory in Saturday's seventh-place game at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Thompson, a hot-shooting 6-foot-3 senior from Anchorage, came through repeatedly when the Seawolves needed him most. He drained back-to-back 3-pointers at the end of the first half to help UAA to a slim halftime lead, and he buried two in a row in the second half to break a tie and give his team the lead for good.

"Travis Thompson is not just the best player on the team," Rice coach Mike Rhoades said, "he's one of the best players in the tournament."

Thompson was one of many elements that came together perfectly for the Division II Seawolves, who earned their first Shootout victory at the new Alaska Airlines Center and their 39th since the tournament began in 1979.

Nicho Burgard, a 6-9 freshman who played three minutes in a Wednesday loss to Pacific and not at all in Friday's loss to Missouri State, emerged as a potential force with 11 points that included two clutch 3-pointers. Sjur Berg, a 6-7 freshman who played 17 mostly quiet minutes in those games, played 26 against Rice and contributed seven points and six rebounds, many of them in critical situations.

And senior point guard Brian McGill finished two rebounds and one point away from a triple-double while orchestrating the offense. He handed out 10 assists, scored nine points -- all of the free throws -- and grabbed eight rebounds while taking on play-calling duties the entire second half.

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"Alaska Anchorage has a bunch of tough dudes," Rhoades said. "And they can play."

They can especially play defense.

The Seawolves pestered Rice (1-5) by pressing and trapping on defense, forced the Owls into several hurried attempts with the shot clock running down and held them to 32 percent shooting. In three tournament games, UAA allowed 180 points for a 60 points per game a game.

"Once again I'm really proud of our defensive effort," UAA coach Rusty Osborne said. "That's what won us the basketball game."

Since the start of the season, Osborne has preached defense to a team led by proven veterans -- Thompson and McGill -- but loaded with newcomers like Burgard, Berg, redshirt freshman center Kalidou Diouf and senior transfer Derrick Fain, who came off the bench Saturday for nine points and two steals.

"If they hear 'D!' or 'rotate!' or 'help!' said again, it'll be too soon," Osborne said. "But I think they're taking some enjoyment in stopping the other team.

"I'm happy they stuck with it and found out that when they're struggling offensively, they can get it done defensively."

Early on, Rice didn't allow the Seawolves many open looks or easy baskets. Andrew Drone, Rice's broad 6-10 center, scored the game's first five points inside the paint to pave the way to 27-15 lead midway through the half.

UAA roared back, finishing the half with a 20-5 run that gave it a 35-32 halftime lead. Thompson poured in 18 points that half, including 10 in the final seven minutes.

Rice scored the first eight points of the second half to regain the lead, but UAA answered with a 9-0 run fueled by three turnovers. Burgard scored five in that stretch, and his 3-pointer from the baseline gave tUAA a 44-40 lead and brought its bench to its feet in celebration.

"Nicho came in and sparked us, and he's capable of that," Osborne said. "He really sparked us, and so did Sjur."

As did McGill. He helped anchor UAA's press and he worked with Thompson to break Rice's press. McGill said he was frustrated by his inability to dictate the pace in the first half, but he played an inspired game all the same.

"Coach told me at halftime I was gonna call the plays," McGill said. "He put the game on my shoulders and that gave me a lot of confidence."

McGill's rebounds and assists were game-highs. Drone led Rice with 15 points, Seth Gearhart added 12, Maurice Rivers contributed 11 points and six rebounds and Marcus Johnson dished seven assists for the Conference USA team from Houston.

UAA got 27 points off its bench, thanks to Burgard, Berg and Fain, and Thompson was spectacular. Twice in the first half, with Rice giving him no room and UAA clawing its way back into the game, he sank catch-and-release 3-pointers.

His 28 points were the most scored by a single player through the tournament's first nine games and they vaulted Thompson to fourth place on the Shootout's all-time scoring list with 157. He trails UAA alums Peter Bullock (213), Ed Kirk (169) and Jason Kaiser (160).

"It's one of those things (to remember) when I'm old and have kids and tell them how good I was and what-not," a laughing Thompson said. "I'm just glad our team is coming together and playing our best going into conference."

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UAA will take a 2-4 record and the confidence of winning a Shootout game into its conference-opening games next week with road games against Saint Martin's and Western Oregon.

"This is by no means the end," Osborne said. "We've got to make this the beginning."

RICE (54) -- Gearhart 3-11 4-6 12, Drone 5-9 5-7 15, Guercy 1-6 4-4 6, Jackson 0-3 2-2 2, Green 1-3 0-0 2, Peera 0-3 0-2 0, Reed 0-1 0-0 0, Rivers 4-8 3-5 11, Mency 1-5 0-0 3, Pollard 1-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-50 18-26 54.

UAA (65) -- Leckband 0-2 0-0 0, Diouf 0-0 0-0 0, McGill 0-2 9-12 9, Thompson 9-14 4-4 28, Blossom 0-3 1-2 1, Berg 2-5 3-4 7, Fain 3-6 2-3 9, Parrish 0-1 0-0 0, Bowman 0-3 0-0 0, Burgard 4-8 0-0 11, Pearson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-44 19-25 65.

Rice 32 22 -- 54

UAA 35 30 -- 65

3-point goals -- Rice 16-50 (Gearhart 2-7, Guercy 0-5, Jackson 0-2, Green 1-2, Peera 0-3, Reed 0-1, Mency 1-4), UAA 10-26 (Leckband 0-2, Thompson 6-9, Blossom 0-3, Berg 0-1, Fain 1-3, Bowman 0-2, Burgard 3-6). Rebounds -- Rice 32 (Rivers 6), UAA 27 (McGill 8). Total fouls -- Rice 21, UAA 22. Fouled out -- none. Assists -- Rice 13 (Jackson 7), UA 16 (McGill 10). Turnovers -- Rice 12 (3 with 2), UAA 9 (McGill 4). Blocks -- Rice 3, UAA 4. Steals -- Rice 2, UAA 6 (Fain 2). A -- 2398. Officials -- Rukasin, Lujan, Corson.

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