UAA Athletics

Ursery’s late bucket lifts UAA to key men’s hoops win over UAF

D.J. Ursery drained a long-range shot with one second remaining Tuesday to lift the UAA men's basketball team to an important victory over UAF in Fairbanks.

Ursery's clutch perimeter shot on an in-bounds play gave the Seawolves a 43-42 win at the Patty Center and keeps them in the running for a spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament.

UAA improved to 10-9 in the GNAC (14-13 overall) to maintain sole possession of sixth place in the 11-team conference. The top six teams advance to the GNAC tournament March 1-3 in Anchorage.

In order for UAA to clinch a spot in the playoffs, the Seawolves either need to win their final regular-season game Saturday against Montana State-Billings in Billings, or Northwest Nazarene needs to lose one of its final two remaining games.

Ursery racked up 14 points and 10 rebounds in the defensive battle, which featured eight lead changes and three ties. Jack Macdonald added 10 points.

UAF was led by Michael Kluting's 10 points and 10 rebounds and Davis Kimble's 15 points.

With one game remaining in the regular season for both Alaska teams, the Nanooks (8-11, 10-15) are out of playoff contention.

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UAA wraps up the regular season Saturday with a road game at Montana State-Billings. The Nanooks play the Yellowjackets on Thursday.

The Seawolves are among four teams fighting for the GNAC's final three tournament spots. Central Washington and Seattle Pacific are both 10-8 with two games left — including one against each other — and Northwest Nazarene is 8-10 with two games left.

Western Oregon (17-1), Western Washington (15-3) and Saint Martin's (13-5) have clinched playoff berths.

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