LACEY, Wash. – After falling behind early to Alaska, the Saints were unable to dig their out of the deficit, despite a combined 45 points from guards Alec Schumacher, and CJ Jennings, and fell 98-88 to begin the 2020 year.
 
Alaska opened the game on a 20-6 run, which was enough padding to withstand multiple runs by the Saints throughout the game. Saint Martin's managed to cut the score to as little as three in the second half, but were unable to come up with the defensive stops to close the gap entirely. Marky Adams grabbed his seventh double-double of the year, while Demonte Malloy and Logan Rooney each earned double-digits in scoring.
 
Alaska knocked down four 3-pointers in the opening five minutes to fuel their 20-6 start. The Saints began to find their offensive zone, starting with baskets from Adams, Caden Smith, and John Moore.
 
Over the course of the first half, Saint Martin's continued to chip away at the lead, dwindling it down into single digits. Trailing by six after a Schumacher 3-pointer near the end of the half, the Saints forced a turnover, and looked to get within one possession before the break. However, a missed 3-pointer by Moore led to a break out 3-pointer for Alaska, swinging the score back to nine, 46-37, at the halfway mark.
 
Schumacher continued to provide the offense in the early goings of the second half. After a Fastbreak layup, Schumacher connected on a 3-pointer to cut the score to 48-45 with 18:41 left in the game. However, it was the closest SMU would get all night.
 
Each time the Saints made a run in the second half, and nearly tied the game, Alaska responded with clutch shot, after clutch shot. Shadeed Shabazz, the second leading scorer in the conference, led the way for Alaska, scoring 30 points, most of which came in the second half.
 
Alaska iced the game down the stretch with key baskets, and free throws, securing the 98-88 victory.
 
Saint Martin's shot 33-for-73 (45.2 percent) from the floor, 11-for-35 (31.4 percent) from beyond the arc, and 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) at the free throw line. SMU ended the night with 37 rebounds, 15 assists on only nine turnovers, along with five steals, and four blocks.
 
The Saints get right back into action on Saturday against Alaska Anchorage at 5:15 p.m., part of a doubleheader of action. Live stats and video will be available on smusaints.com.