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Huskies hold on, stem Tide

Alabama's Chuck Davis, left, tries to block a shot by Washington's Bobby Jones during the first half of the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Alabama's Chuck Davis, left, tries to block a shot by Washington's Bobby Jones during the first half of the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Will Conroy had 18 points and six assists to help No. 22 Washington beat No. 19 Alabama 79-76 on Saturday night in the championship game of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout.

Washington (4-0) led the entire second half, but barely escaped overtime when Alabama’s Kennedy Winston missed a wild 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Huskies’ Nate Robinson finished with 16 points and was selected the tournament’s outstanding player. Tre Simmons, starting in place of the injured Brandon Roy, had 15 points and nine rebounds, and Bobby Jones also had 15 points.

Chuck Davis led Alabama (4-1) with 23 points and 19 rebounds, and Earnest Shelton added 17 points.

Both teams started slowly, with Alabama committing five turnovers and Washington four in the opening 5 minutes.

The Huskies led 21-19, but Alabama went on a 13-2 run to take a 33-24 lead. But with just over 3 minutes remaining, Robinson and Conroy hit long jump shots to start a 12-0 Washington run and the Huskies closed the half leading 36-33.

Shelton picked up his fourth foul early in the second half and Washington slowly increased its lead. The Huskies matched their biggest lead of nine points, 64-55, when Robinson hit two free throws with 8:38 remaining.

But with about 6 minutes left, Robinson committed his third and fourth fouls and went to the bench. Alabama closed the gap to three at 74-71 behind four points by Ronald Steele and a jumper by Kennedy Winston.

The Huskies took a 79-72 lead on Conroy’s runner with 2:18 remaining, but Shelton made two baskets to cut it to 79-76 with 1:48 left.

After a timeout with 28 seconds remaining, Alabama inbounded the ball and worked it underneath to Davis, who backed in but could not convert. After a scramble underneath the basket, the Crimson Tide got the ball with 9 seconds remaining.

Shelton lost the ball at the top of the key and Robinson recovered on his knees but was called for traveling with 2 seconds left. Winston took the inbound pass near midcourt and missed at the buzzer.