ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — The San Francisco State men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, 81-69, to Alaska Anchorage in the opening game of the Ron Logsdon Basketball Classic at the Wolves' Den on Friday evening.
- Linton Acliese III led the Gators (2-1) with 16 points, which all came in the second half.
- DJ Sylvester added eight points and a team-high six rebounds. Kenny Macklin and Eche Okeke both added seven points apiece.
- Guard Jack Macdonald led all players with 20 points for the Seawolves. He was 4-of-7 from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 at the line.
- Niko Bevens added 14 points for UAA. Tyrus Holsey scored 13 and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
- The Gators won the rebounding battle, 33-31, with seven different players with three or more.
- Alaska Anchorage improves to 5-1 all-time versus SF State.
SF State grabbed an early three-point lead but fell behind on a Tobin Karlberg three-pointer. The Gators spent the next three minutes working to even the score, and went back ahead with 11:32 on the clock thanks to a pair of
Tyler Jackson free throws. Neither team scored again until the 7:40 mark when
Alex Manu hit a three from the left side that put the Gators up five. However, the Seawolves rallied with an 15-5 run to end the half that found the Gators trailing 32-27. SF State shot just 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) in the first half.
The Gators scored the ball better in the second half at 59.3 percent (16-of-27) but the Seawolves bested that at 60.7 percent (17-of-28). Acliese got in the scorebook on the Gators' first possession and Sylvester followed with a three-ball to tie it at 32-32. The Seawolves answered with five straight points to reestablish their lead but Acliese scored the Gators' next six points to keep it a one-point game. However, the Gators fell victim to a 13-0 run that ended up being the difference in the game. The Gators pulled within 10 but never were never able to get closer down the stretch.
SF State returns to the Wolves' Den on Saturday, November 16 for its first-ever meeting with Angelo State. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
