FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Chaminade University men's basketball team got 26 points from Jamir Thomas (Berkeley, Calif./City College of San Francisco/Berkeley HS) and 23 from Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) to defeat host University of Alaska, 80-72, in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium.
 
Ross Reeves (Orem, Utah/Snow College/Orem HS) added 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks as the Silverswords (1-1) avoided their first 0-2 start since the 2015-16 season.
 
Chaminade took advantage of 18 Nanook turnovers, recycling them into 17 points, while also taking care of the ball with just eight giveaways.
 
Chris Bready (Milwaukee, Wis./New Mexico Military Institute/Waukesha West HS) chipped in with 10 points while Scott Ator (Murphy, Texas/College of the Sequoias/Wylie HS) grabbed six boards.
 
Tyriq Luke led the Nanooks (1-1) with 17 points off the bench.
 
Like in Chaminade's loss to Alaska Anchorage, the previous evening, the margin never really got too wide, with the largest lead being 55-45 early in the second half when Bready hit a layup and a 3-pointer in consecutive possessions.
 
CUH saw its lead cut to just two (66-64) with 4:30 remaining but Amaral-Artharee converted an old-fashion three-point play then it was Thomas' turn. A driving layup made it a seven-point lead then on Chaminade's next possession, he applied a dagger by burying a triple from the right wing to give the 'Swords a 74-66 lead with 47 seconds left.
 
From there, Reeves and Thomas combined to hit all eight of Chaminade's free throws for their first win of the season.
 
The 'Swords shot 44.3 percent from the field, making 9-of-28 from 3-point distance and 17-of-22 from free throw line. Alaska was 40.7 from the field with 5-of-16 shooting from long range and made 19-of-24 from the charity stripe.
 
Chaminade was out-rebounded by nine including 17-to-11 on the offensive end but allowed UAF to score 15 in second-chance points.
 
Amaral-Artharee and Reeves were both named to the all-tournament team.
 
The Silverswords will make their home debut on Thursday when they face the University of Hawai'i Hilo in an early Pacific West Conference matchup. Tipoff at McCabe Gymnasium is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
PacWest/GNAC Challenge All-Tournament Team
Bishop Tosi, Alaska Anchorage
Ross Reeves, Chaminade
Isaac Amaral-Artharee, Chaminade
Nick Hopkins, Alaska
Melo Sanchez, Hawai'i Pacific
 
Most Valuable Player: Tyson Gilbert, Alaska Anchorage