Box score | Alaska postgame | Cal State San Marcos postgame

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The miracle March run for Alaska continued in the NCAA West Regional as the Nanooks pulled the first upset of the day by knocking off the No. 1 seed Cal State San Marcos, 70-63.
 
The Cougars (20-5) never led in the contest as Nanooks shot .565 from the field in the first half to build a 37-23 halftime lead. The deficit went as high as 16 points in the second half, but the Cougars kept chipping away and tied it at 53-53 on a layup by Blake Seits with seven minutes remaining.
 
The teams would trade baskets over the next two minutes until it was again tied at 61-61. After a free throw by Shadeed Shabazz put the Nanooks back up one (62-61), the Cougars brought the ball up the court, hoping to take their first lead. That is the moment Shabazz made the defensive play of the game.
 
He swiped the ball away at midcourt from his man and took it down the court for an uncontested layup and a three-point lead (64-61) with 49 seconds remaining. The Cougars could not convert on their next possession, and Shabazz followed with another fastbreak layup to close the game.
 
Shabazz finished with 35 points on 11-of-19 shooting and 11-of-12 at the free throw line. He added seven rebounds and three steals. Koby Huerta and Willie Thomas chipped in with 10 points apiece, and Johvonta Jones had 10 rebounds as the Nanooks outrebounded the Cougars 42-23.
 
Jayce McCain led four Cal State San Marcos student-athletes in double figures with 16 points and three steals. Lyle Sutton came off the bench to score 14 points, and Greg Milton III and Blake Seits each added 12 points.
 
Alaska will advance to the semifinals of the West Regional, where it will face No. 5 seed Azusa Pacific on Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.