Utah lets upset bid slip away

ANCHORAGE — The Utah basketball team overcame an early 13-point deficit, but couldn't overcome the terrific play of Washington's 5-foot-9 guard Nate Robinson Thursday night at Sullivan Arena.

Robinson was the smallest player on the floor, but he was the biggest difference in the game in leading the No. 22-ranked Huskies to a 78-71 victory over the Utes in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout.

Robinson finished with a game-high 29 points and made the key baskets down the stretch after the Utes had fought back to tie the game. Brandon Roy was just about as effective as he scored 25 points, including seven straight after the Utes had tied the game.

"We dug ourselves a hole, but once we settled down, we got into a flow and did a better job of getting Andrew (Bogut) the basketball," said Utah coach Ray Giacoletti. "It's impossible to simulate their offense. They appear to be as good as anybody around the perimeter as anyone in the country."

With the loss, the Utes will face the loser of the Oklahoma-High Point game, which finished after deadline Thursday night. The second-round game will be played today at 4 p.m. MST.

After a slow start, Bogut came back to lead the Utes with 23 points — 17 in the second half — and 12 rebounds, playing the full 40 minutes. He also dished out four assists and had four blocked shots.

Justin Hawkins scored 18 points, while Marc Jackson scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Tim Drisdom came off the bench to score seven points and hand out seven assists in 32 minutes.

The Utes fell behind 16-3 before the game was six minutes old, but clawed back and actually tied the game twice in the final four minutes at 64 and 66.

But after Bogut's inside basket with 2:55 left, the Huskies went on a 9-0 run to put the game away and disappoint the Utes. First, Robinson drove down the lane and made a left-handed layup. Then after Hawkins and Jackson both missed contested jumpers, Roy hit a 10-footer in the lane.

Drisdom turned the ball over in the backcourt as Giacoletti begged for a foul call and the Huskies converted with a three-point play by Roy to make it 73-66 with 1:46 left.

Trailing 42-31 at halftime, the Utes made a gallant second-half effort behind Bogut and Marc Jackson.

Bogut made a pair of inside shots to pull the Utes within two at 64-62 and then after a miss by Robinson, Jackson was fouled and his two free throws tied the game at 64.