UAA Opens Season With 94-65 Win Over Evergreen
The Seawolves began Cameron Turner's first season as head coach with a home-court victory before about 2,800 Anchorage fifth-graders.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball
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The UAA men's basketball team defeated Evergreen State 94-65 in its season opener at the Alaska Airlines Center on Friday. Cameron Turner won his first game as head coach, succeeding Rusty Osborne, who held the position for 22 years.
Why it matters
The game was staged as a field trip for Anchorage fifth-graders, with Anchorage School District Chief of Schools Kersten Johnson saying the goal was to show students future possibilities and introduce them to their hometown university. Turner's debut marks the start of a new era for the program in Anchorage.
Sylas Williams posted 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while Mack Keighran added 16 points and five assists in his Seawolf debut. The source does not report team shooting percentages or advanced metrics for the game.
The players
Cameron Turner
Turner is the new UAA men's basketball head coach who earned his first win in the season opener.
Rusty Osborne
Osborne coached the UAA men's basketball program for 22 years before relinquishing the position in February.
Kersten Johnson
Johnson is the Anchorage School District Chief of Schools who described the goals of the student field trip.
The details
Sylas Williams led the Seawolves with 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the 94-65 win. Five former Kincaid Elementary School students played for the Seawolves, and after the game players signed towels and markers for students until the final bus left campus.
Timeline
Friday, November 6, 2026: UAA defeats Evergreen State 94-65 in the season opener at 11 a.m.
February 2026: Rusty Osborne relinquishes the head coaching position after 22 years.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 4:15 p.m.: The teams meet again for game two at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Season Trajectory
Cameron Turner's first win follows the 22-year tenure of Rusty Osborne, whose departure in February set up a leadership transition for the program. The season opener establishes the early direction of the Seawolves under their new head coach.
Fans planning to attend can catch the rematch against Evergreen State on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center. The game offers a chance to see the Seawolves' new rotation continue under Turner.
The takeaway
Turner's opening win gives the Seawolves an early benchmark as they begin a new chapter after more than two decades under Osborne. Watching how the roster responds in game two will show how quickly the new staff's approach takes hold.
What happens next
The two teams will meet again for game two on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 4:15 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Further reading
For more on the local program, see Anchorage Basketball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Alaskasnewssource.
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