Tosi's double double propels Seawolves over Wolves, 71 49

Anchorage (Dec. 7) - Junior forward Bishop Tosi posted 18 points and 11 rebounds Saturday to propel the Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team to its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory, defeating Western Oregon 71-49 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

he Seawolves (6-7, 1-1 GNAC) also got 15 points and seven rebounds from junior guard Tyler Burraston as they outscored the visitors from Monmouth 36-15 in the second half, holding them to 4-of-23 shooting after the break.

The Wolves (2-9, 0-2) were led by 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting from reserve forward Brady Grier, but were outrebounded 42-30 and outshot .438 to .340.

"I thought we picked up the defensive intensity in the second half after an uneven first half," said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne, whose team led 35-34 at the break. "Offensively, we took better care of the ball and had better balance inside. It was also terrific to see Bishop have another great all-around night."

After four lead changes in the opening stanza, the Seawolves took control in the opening moments of the second half when Tosi scored inside and fed Hasaan Herrington for a jumper to make it 39-34.

Herrington grabbed one of his three steals and dished to Zach Ibbetson for a fastbreak layup to make it 50-38 as UAA led by double figures for the final 14 minutes, 37 seconds.

Tosi shot 7 of 8 from the field and dished five assists with just one turnover as the former Bartlett star recorded his second straight double-double and third this season.

Ibbetson had 12 points, and Herrington had nine points, eight rebounds and six assists. It was the most rebounds for Herrington in his one and a half seasons with UAA and one shy of his career high from his time at fellow D-II program Texas-Tyler.

Senior guard Sean Evans had nine points and a game-high seven assists for the hosts.

The Seawolves get an 11-day break before playing their final non-conference games Dec. 19-20 in Honolulu, facing Colorado State-Pueblo and Johnson & Wales at the Hoops in Hawaii Classic.