Las Vegas, Tar Heels in Final

Freddie Banks scored 17 points Saturday night as No. 16-ranked Nevada Las Vegas edged Arizona, 60-59, to earn a shot at No. 1-ranked North Carolina in tonight’s title match of the eighth annual Great Alaska Shootout basketball tournament.

North Carolina, the defending champion, advanced to the final by downing Purdue, 73-62.

Using an effective full-court press, Arizona jumped to a 17-6 lead in the first seven minutes, but a seven-minute scoring drought by the Wildcats enabled the Runnin’ Rebels to get back in the game.

A powerful dunk by Armon Gilliam off a missed shot gave Nevada Las Vegas a 18-17 lead with 6:30 to go in the half, but Arizona freshman Sean Elliott scored 10 of the Wildcats’ next 14 points as they took a 31-24 halftime lead.

With Gilliam scoring Las Vegas’ first eight points of the second half, the Runnin’ Rebels gradually wore down Arizona and tied the game, 52-52, with 3:47 left.

Banks hit four free throws and sank a long jumper while falling down as the shot clock expired to give Las Vegas a 58-54 lead with 2:01 remaining. He missed a free throw with 22 seconds left but hit two with seven seconds left to put UNLV up, 60-57.

Arizona’s Elliott slammed one home at the buzzer for the final margin to finish with a game-high 23 points for the Wildcats (1-1). Gilliam scored 19 for UNLV (4-0).

Earlier, guard Kenny Smith and center Brad Daugherty scored 16 points apiece to lead the Tar Heels.