ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Jeremy Pargo's two free throws with 5:49 to play Thursday gave 14th-rated Gonzaga the lead and the Bulldogs held off Western Kentucky for a 74-71 victory.
Gonzaga trailed most of the second half at the Great Alaska Shootout and was down 50-43 with 12:56 to go before rallying to improve to 4-0 on the year. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers fell to 3-1.
A.J. Slaughter hit a jumper that gave the Hilltoppers the final 7-point advantage but Gonzaga worked its way back into the game, with Pargo's free throws marking the final lead change.
The game remained close and Gonzaga was ahead 70-68 when it lost two key players -- Austin Daye and Abdullah Kuso -- to fouls with about 2 minutes to go. But Western Kentucky's Courtney Lee made just one of his two free throws and Gonzaga was able to put the game away.
Matt Bouldin led Gonzaga with 18 points while Micah Downs finished with 14 and Pargo 12. Lee led all scorers with 19 points.
