FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Trailing by double-digits in the first half, Saint Martin's used a late offensive surge to rally from the deficit and earn an 81-75 victory on the road against Alaska.

With less than two minutes left on the clock, freshman Marcus Lenker made a clutch 3-pointer to give Saint Martin's (5-16, 3-9 GNAC) their first lead over Alaska (8-12, 7-5 GNAC). The Saints held onto this lead behind the efforts of Logan Rooney and CJ Jennings, who made the final baskets of the game for the Saints. 

Four different Saints scored in double-digits, with Lenker leading the way offensively with 19 points, marking a career-high. Jennings and Moore followed in scoring with 16 and 14 points, respectively, and Logan Rooney finished with 12. 

Alaska secured an early 7-5 lead minutes into the game, looking sharp offensively to hold a lead. SMU managed to cut this lead down, making it a one-point game three different times. An 8-0 run by the Nanooks began to stretch their lead to around the ten-point mark. UAF pushed their lead to 11 at the buzzer, to end the half 34-23.

The second half opened up with both teams going basket for basket, with the Nanooks holding the lead. The momentum began to switch when the Saints grinded out an 8-2 run, with baskets coming from four different Saints. After a UAF basket to make the score 40-33, Moore responded with four straight points to trim away at the lead and make it a three-point game at the 15-minute mark.

Baskets continued to go down on both ends; however, ten unanswered points for the Nanooks pushed the lead to 12, their largest lead of the game at the 8-minute mark. Back-to-back threes from Alex Clinton and Caden Smith brought the Saints back within three, which the Saints held onto until a clutch 3-pointer from Lenker put the Saints in the lead for the first time of the game. SMU secured the win in the last minute, icing the game for an 81-75 victory. 

It was a full team effort for the Saints, with their small travel roster of seven all contributing to the score. On top of a career-high in points for Lenker, he added six rebounds and four assists. Rooney ended the night with six rebounds, and four assists. Jennings added two rebounds and three assists, while Moore added four rebounds and two assists. Smith came off the bench for nine points, while Marky Adams had eight points and grabbed eight boards.

As a team, Saint Martin's shot 26-for-50 (52 percent) from the floor, 12-for-24 beyond the arc, and 17-for-22 at the free throw line. The Saints collected 28 rebounds, along with 17 assists on 17 turnovers, two blocks, and four steals.

SMU returns home to host Concordia Thursday, February 6 with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at smusaints.com.