Sports

Buffalo edges Weber State in Shootout thriller, 74-72

Buffalo overcame an eight-point deficit in the final six minutes to overtake Weber State and hold off the Wildcats in the closing seconds, 74-72 for third place Saturday in the GCI Great Alaska Shootout.

The game came down to a pair of free throws by Buffalo and a missed free throw by Weber State late at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Senior Blake Hamilton hit two free throws to give Buffalo a three-point lead with five seconds remaining, but the Bulls fouled Weber State's Dusty Baker behind the 3-point line with one tick left on the clock.

Baker — who set a Shootout record for for 3-point accuracy by hitting 10 of 11 in three games — missed his first of three free throw. He made the second one but had to intentionally miss the third attempt to give Weber State a chance, but Hamilton grabbed the rebound and Buffalo survived.

Hamilton led Buffalo (4-2) with 23 points, shooting 8 of 19 from the field.

Forward Nick Perkins added a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Willie Connor supplied 15 points and four assists for the two-time defending Mid-American Conference champions.

Guard Jeremy Senglin led Weber State (2-4) with 21 points, going 4 of 9 from beyond the arc. The defending Big Sky Conference champs put five players in double figures, including Cody John (13 points), Baker (12), Kyndahl Hill (11) and Richaud Gittens (10).

Buffalo and Weber State both played in last season's NCAA Tournament.

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