Anchorage Daily News

Chris Bryant spent some of his Saturday watching college basketball on the tube, checking out the afternoon action before taking the court for the UAA Seawolves that night.

He flipped channels and changed games, although his focus never drifted from this season's mid-major darling, Drake University. Drake beat Great Alaska Shootout champion Butler in what ESPN referred to as a "bracket buster."

Bryant was particularly interested in that game because he used to play at Drake. The senior shooting guard transferred to UAA this season, leaving a Drake team that has taken the country by storm.

You might think Bryant had second thoughts about leaving a Division I program having one of its best seasons, but that's not the case.

The Metlakatla native is thriving in his home state and flourishing with his new team.

The latest example came Saturday night when Bryant bagged 16 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to spark the ninth-ranked Seawolves to a hard-fought 73-60 victory over Seattle University before a sellout crowd at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

"I was feeling pretty inspired watching all these games earlier," Bryant said. "Back at Drake, they're doing really well, and I'm happy for them. But I'm back in Alaska, it's just another world out here. We're doing just as well or even better."

Indeed, the league-leading Seawolves improved to 22-4 overall and 13-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, sporting a two-game lead with four conference games left. And Bryant has played a big part in UAA's success, starting every game and ranking third in scoring.

"I've never felt so close (to a team) before," Bryant said. "I just want to do everything I can for them and for UAA."

Saturday's game had playoff implications for both sides. The Seawolves are ranked No. 1 in the West Region and are the favorite to host their first postseason games since 1988.

Meanwhile, Seattle (16-8, 9-6 GNAC) came in ranked No. 8 in the region and fighting for its postseason life.

The action didn't disappoint, with each squad exchanging big plays in a back-and-forth second half that felt like an NCAA Tournament game.

In the end, though, it was Bryant who helped the Seawolves extend their home-court winning streak to 13 games and knock off the last GNAC team to beat them in Anchorage -- 373 days ago.

Of course, he didn't do it alone. All-conference forward Carl Arts of Valdez scored 21 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, and Jeremiah Trueman came off the bench to add 12 points in 16 minutes. But Bryant was the difference down the stretch on a series of plays that required his hustle and muscle.

"I think Chris has really grown since he's been here," UAA coach Rusty Osborne said. "It's difficult to play with guys who play hard and (go all out), and not do it yourself, and he's really grown in that area."

Bryant was especially needed after surging Seattle -- which had won seven of eight games going in -- rallied from a 12-point deficit to tie the game at 41. The Seawolves had spent the first 23 minutes constructing a 40-28 cushion only to have the red-hot Redhawks come right back.

UAA needed somebody to step up, and it was Bryant who delivered the senior leadership and scoring punch. He and Trueman supplied a dozen points in a 12-2 run that put the Seawolves back in control.

Then, shortly after Seattle made one last run to get within 53-49, Brant scored six points on a free throw, 3-pointer and midrange jumper that sealed the win.

After Bryant stole the ball and canned a 12-footer to make it 61-49 with 3:12 left, Seattle coach Joe Callero called timeout. Bryant sprinted to the huddle and jumped into the arms of Trueman in a moment of boyish excitement.

"You didn't see that from Chris at the beginning of the year," Osborne said. "He's bought into the thing we want him to do. He had a big night and I'm happy for him."

Arts, the GNAC's No. 3 scorer and No. 1 rebounder, enjoyed another big night. He sank 7 of 11 shots, including 3-for-3 shooting from downtown, to go along with 4-for-4 shooting at the foul line. His 3-pointer with 43 seconds left was the final dagger.

The win allowed UAA to sweep the season series from the Redhawks, who fell 45-38 at home on Jan. 24 in the lowest-scoring game in GNAC history. And just like the first game, Arts said, nothing came easy on the offensive end.

"It was tough. You always had a hand in your face or had somebody running at you," he said. "I wasn't really looking for my own, but when I had an open shot, I was definitely going to take it. I didn't shoot the ball too many times, but when I did it went in."

The Seawolves hit the road this week with games Thursday at Northwest Nazarene and Saturday at Seattle Pacific. UAA is 9-1 away from home this season.

Find assistant sports editor Van Williams online at adn.com/contact/vwilliams or call 257-4335.

Seattle 24 36 -- 60

UAA 34 39 -- 73

SEATTLE -- Coldren 6-9 4-6 17; Swanson 4-6 1-1 9; Berry 3-10 0-0 8; Boxley 3-5 1-1 7; Burl 2-5 2-3 6; Gweth 2-3 1-1 5; Wright 2-8 0-0 4; Harris 1-1 0-0 2; Powers 1-3 0-0 2; Welt 0-0 0-0 0; Olson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-51 9-12 60.

UAA -- Bryant 6-14 7-8 22; Arts 7-11 4-4 21; Trueman 4-6 4-5 12; Cooper 1-1 5-6 8; Olsen 1-7 3-4 5; Burney 1-5 1-2 4; Hardy 0-0 1-2 1; Ridgeway 0-0 0-0 0; White 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-44 25-31 73.

3-point goals -- Seattle 3-11 (Berry 2-8; Coldren 1-1; Burl 0-1; Wright 0-1), UAA 8-15 (Arts 3-3; Bryant 3-8; Cooper 1-1; Burney 1-2; Olsen 0-1). Fouled out -- Seattle-Gweth; Coldren, UAA-None. Rebounds -- Seattle 25 (Gweth 6), UAA 26 (Arts 8). Assists -- Seattle 9 (Burl 3), UAA 12 (Cooper 7). Total fouls -- Seattle 23, UAA 15. Technical fouls -- Seattle-None, UAA-None. A -- 1,230

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