Shootout notebook: Seawolves bust a move, Hamilton a smash hit, and more

Dancing like nobody's watching

They didn't win a game at the GCI Great Alaska Shootout, but two UAA women's basketball players won the hearts of fans Wednesday.

A pair of junior transfers — forwards Shelby Cloninger of North Idaho College and Dominique Thomas of Kilgore College in Texas — showed off their snazzy dance moves on the Jumbotron during breaks in the men's game between UAA and Buffalo on Wednesday night.

Near the end of the tight game, they took their swagger down behind the Buffalo net to dance and pose during the Bulls' free-throw attempts.

Their efforts didn't change the outcome of the game — Buffalo sank its last nine free throws to win 85-79 — but they brought smiles to the fans. A couple of little kids even joined Cloninger and Thomas.

"We feed off each other," Cloninger said. "It's been like this since the first day we met."

Hamilton’s a smash

Here's one Hamilton who did not throw away his shot.

After an unassuming first half against the UAA men's basketball team Wednesday night, Buffalo guard Blake Hamilton discovered a red-shot shooting touch to help the Bulls hold off the Seawolves.

Hamilton poured in a career-high 36 points to lead Buffalo to an 85-79 first-round Shootout win.

The output was the 10th most in Buffalo history and the eighth most in Shootout history. Washington State's Klay Thompson owns the Shootout single-game scoring record wth 43 points in a 1998 game against San Diego, and Mike Martinho owns Buffalo's single-game scoring record with 44 in a 1998 game against Rochester.

Hamilton, a 6-foot-6 senior, had seven points in Wednesday's first half, which ended with the Bulls ahead 35-33. He hit 3 of 9 field goal attempts, including 1 of 4 from 3-point range.

In the second half, Hamilton erupted for 29 points. He pumped in 9 of 15 field goal attempts, including 2 of 5 from long range, and sank all nine of his free throws. All of his free throws came in the final 45 seconds, and they accounted for all of Buffalo's scoring in that span as the Bulls held off the Seawolves.

Coming into the game against UAA, Hamilton was averaging nine points per game.

"The last game I had 11 assists and only scored eight points," he said. "I do whatever coach wants."

Last season, his first in Buffalo, Hamilton averaged 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds to earn third-team all-Mid American Conference honors. He broke a bone in his non-shooting hand early last month, but clearly
it hasn't compromised his shot.

All-time single-game scoring leaders

43 — Klay Thompson, Washington State vs. San Diego, 2009
41 — Glenn Robinson, Purdue vs. Portland, 1993
39 — Casey Green, SW Louisiana vs. UAA,  1997
37 — Peter Bullock, UAA vs. Wyoming, 2002
37 — Mike Ferrara, Colgate vs Nicholls State, 1980
37 — Jesse Jackson, UAA vs. Iowa,  1986
37 — Jamaal Tatum, Southern Illinois vs. Eastern Washington, 2005
36 — Preston Shumpert, Syracuse vs. DePaul,  2000
36 — Tony Dunkin, Coastal Carolina vs. Santa Clara, 1991
36 — Steve Smith, Michigan State vs. Auburn, 1989
36 — Derrick Miller, Kentucky vs. California, 1988
36 — Isaiah Canaan, Murray State vs. Southern Miss, 2011 (2OT)
36 — Blake Hamilton, Buffalo vs UAA, 2016

Shootout munchies

With basketball games going all day, fans are bound to get hungry.

In addition to the usual Seawolf Grill concessions and the Varsity Sports Grill, located in on the fourth floor of the arena, there are several food and drink stands located in the corners of the Alaska Airlines Center.

Be ready to bust open your wallet.

All draft beer and wine is $8. For a splurge, you can get a "Bud and French dip" combo for $20 or a French dip by itself for $14. A pretzel with cheese runs $6 and popcorn is $5.

Just inside the arena is a smoothie bar and Dippin' Dots ice cream. There are more than a dozen flavors and the ice cream, frappuccinos and smoothies are $5 each.

At the concession stand, a hot dog costs $4 and a reindeer dog is $6.

A brief elevator ride up to the fourth floor of the arena is the home of the sit-down restaurant, the Varsity Sports Grill, that overlooks the basketball court.

Alaskan Amber beer battered halibut will set you back $22, Thai pizza with chicken and shrimp goes for $16 and the Seawolf Burger is $14. The only items under $10 are starters and desserts.

Zoning in on fun

During last year's Shootout, the designated hangout in the Alaska Airlines Center's auxiliary gym was more of a "no fun zone." It didn't see much action.

This year, the "Fun Zone" features more amenities for kids and adults and appears to be a bit more popular.

The back portion is sectioned off with three items from Tons of Fun Entertainment, including a bucking salmon, a "Meltdown" ride and a bounce house for kids needing to get their energy out.

It's $5 to take a wild ride on the bucking salmon and $3 to play in the bounce house.

The "Meltdown," which features spinning foam beams that try to knock participants off small platforms, is $5.

TV screens, $8 draft beer and $15 prime rib sandwiches are on-hand for the older folks, and a bean bag toss sits nearby.

Shootout stat leaders

Women

Points

Kristen Simon, USC    38

Liza Fruendt, MSU      37

Sadie Edwards, USC  31

Holly Blades, UP         29

Minyon Moore, USC   25

Rebounds

Kristen Simon, USC    23

Julie Spencer, UP       16

Ashley Gray, MSU      16

Aubrey Buckley, MSU  11

Minyon Moore, USC    10

Assists

Minyon Moore, USC   14

Kiki Robertson, UAA   11

Kaylie Van Loo, UP     9

Julie Spencer, UP        9

Yazmeen Goo, UAA    8

Men

(though 3 of 4 first-round games)

Points

Blake Hamilton, Buffalo    36

Marcus Marshall, Nevada 25

Sherron Dorsey-Walker, Oakland  23

Cameron Oliver, Nevada    22

Dusty Baker, Weber State    21

Jeremy Senglin, Weber State   20

Diante Mitchell, UAA         17

Martez Walker, Oakland    17

Rebounds

Isaiah Brock, Oakland     11

Jordan Caroline, Nevada 10

Jalen Hayes, Oakland     9

Cameron Oliver, Nevada 8

Blake Hamilton, Buffalo 8

Chima Moneke, UC Davis  8

Assists

Sherron Dorsey-Walker, Oakland   9

Lindsey Drew, Nevada   9

Diante Mitchell, UAA       7

Sam Cassell, Iona      7

Deyshonee Much, Iona   6

Davonta Jordan, Buffalo  6

Cameron Oliver, Nevada  6