Evergreen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Cody Whitmer (Jr., G) provided The Evergreen State College with 16 points in an 88-72 loss to the University of Alaska Anchorage in an exhibition game at the Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday, Nov. 7. The game counted for the Seawolves, who improved to 2-0 on the season.

Whitmer was 6 of 13 on field goals while hitting 4 of 8 three-points shots. He also earned the rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Kenzel Massey (Jr., W) scored 12 points for the Geoduck, including a pair of 3-pointers. Massey blocked one shot and registered a game-high three steals. Jacob Laff (Jr., W) finished with 11 points for Evergreen to go along with three rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. 

Lareel Stewart (Sr., G) contributed eight points and a team-high seven rebounds for the Geoducks. Tyler No (Sr., G) also scored eight points. Jayson Mathews (Sr., G) was credited with 11 assists.

Mack Keighran paced the Seawolves with 21 points, as he hit 6 of 10 field goals, including 4 of 7 long-range shots. He was 5 for 6 on free throws. Keighran achieved four assists, two boards, and one steal. Sylas Williams supplied Alaska Anchorage with a double-double on 13 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Tarrance Warren tacked on 12 points and earned four rebounds. Karim Elgizawy accumulated 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Lyman Simmons grabbed six rebounds and forced two steals.

Evergreen led 7-3 with 16:21 left in the first half following a 3-point basket by Whitmer. The Geoducks soon owned an 11-8 advantage on a layup by Jeremy Gaut (Jr., W). Alaska Anchorage responded with a 7-0 run and held a 15-11 lead after Warren hit a 3-pointer with 12:32 to go in the half.

The Seawolves eventually increased the margin to 26-16 on a layup by Simmons at the 8:19 mark. Evergreen tallied the next nine points, reducing the margin to 26-25 when Massey scored on a layup with 4:51 on the clock.

UAA added two points before Evergreen went on a 5-0 run. The offensive surge gave Evergreen a 30-28 lead following two free throws by Laff with 2:21 remaining. UAA ended the half with a 35-30 advantage after Williams hit a 3-pointer with 1:44 to go and Walker Timme added a jumper and a layup.

Elgizawy scored on a 3-pointer for the Seawolves to start the second half, giving Alaska Anchorage a 38-30 lead. Evergreen cut the margin to 44-41 on a 3-pointer by Whitmer with 17:10 remaining. UAA increased the lead to 54-44 just under five minutes later on a 3-point basket by Keighran.

Massey scored 33 seconds later on a 3-pointer to reduce the margin to 54-47. No of Evergreen added a 3-pointer to cut the margin to 54-50 with 11:18 left. The Geoducks got as close as 59-56 on a pair of free throws by Massey with 9:12 remaining. Alaska Anchorage went on a 10-1 run that ended with a jumper by Keighran for a 69-57 advantage with 5:43 to play. 

Whitmer scored next for Evergreen, but UAA answered with a 6-0 run. The run ended with a fastbreak layup by Will Kuykendall at the 4:21 mark, increasing the Seawolves' lead to 75-59. Evergreen pulled within 14 points twice, including 77-63 on a layup by Whitmer with 3:23 to go.

Evergreen hit 24 of 58 field goals (41.4%) and 10 of 34 three-points shots (29.4%). The Geoducks converted 14 of 21 free throws (66.7%). Alaska Anchorage made 30 of 6 field goal attempts (50.0%), including 11 of 29 three-pointers (37.9%). The Seawolves sank 17 of 25 free throws (68.0%).

The game was the second meeting in as many days between Evergreen and UAA. The Seawolves won Friday's game 94-65. The Geoducks will be back in action with an exhibition game against the University of Hawaii at Hilo at the Costantino Recreation Center on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST.