WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team traveled to the Gulf Coast to face Alaska Fairbanks as a part of Saint Leo's Christmas Classic.

The Sailfish found themselves trailing 70-66 with 33 seconds remaining. A 3-pointer from Joshua Ward made it a one-point game with seven seconds to play. PBA fouled immediately to send UAF to the free-throw line. The Nanooks missed the front end of a one-and-one, and PBA corralled the rebound with six seconds to go the length of the floor. Jakob Hester pushed the ball to the rim, hanging in the air and converting on a layup at the buzzer to win the game for PBA, 71-70.

Today's game was the first time PBA has faced Alaska-Fairbanks in men's basketball. The Sailfish win helps preserve PBA's No. 23 ranking in the NABC top 25 and No. 18 ranking in the D2CSC top 25.

Ward led the Sailfish offense with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals. Hester finished with 13 points, including the game-winner, with three rebounds. Jose Roberto Tanchyn tallied 10 points of his own with a team-high 14 boards. Graham Worland scored 11 points with two 3-pointers. Tyler Burton recorded eight points, three boards, and an assist. Kollin Claridy provided a spark defensively for the 'Fish, swiping three steals with a block while grabbing eight rebounds.

PBA was trailing by as much as seven in the first half as its offense was slow out of the gate. The Nanooks shot it well from beyond the arc to help build their lead despite turning it over eight times. Worland scored all 11 points in the first half to help keep the 'Fish from falling too far behind. Layups from Tanchyn and Worland helped close the gap down the stretch, but the Sailfish trailed 37-35 at halftime. 

The Sailfish regained the lead early in the second half, but it was short-lived. PBA's scoring was not consistent enough to string together a big run and build a lead. UAF led most of the half, with a pair of free throws giving the Nanooks a 67-60 lead with 2:35 to play. A 6-0 run by the 'Fish made it 67-66 with 51 seconds to go. A 3-pointer from UAF made it a four-point game with 33 ticks remaining, seemingly ending PBA's hopes of a comeback. Tachyn picked up a big offensive rebound and found Ward for three to make it 70-69 with seven seconds to go. The Nanook's missed free throw set up the layup from Hester to win it for PBA 71-70.

UAF outshot the Sailfish 48 percent to 39 percent in the game. The Nanooks made nine threes on 41 percent shooting, while PBA made seven threes, shooting 27 percent from deep. PBA dominated the boards, 45-35, including 21 offensive rebounds leading to 20 second-chance points. PBA's defense forced 18 turnovers but only turned them into seven points, whereas UAF scored 15 points off 12 PBA turnovers. PBA's bench came up big tonight with 38 points, including three double-digit scorers.

PBA finishes 2024 with a matchup against Ashland on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.