ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Michael Nurse sank a short jumper at the buzzer to give Iowa State a 74-72 overtime victory over St. Mary's (Calif.) Wednesday night in the Great Alaska Shootout's first round.
Iowa State (2-0) plays Cincinnati Friday.
Nurse's last-second heroics canceled a spectacular performance by Eric Schraeder, who sank a tournament-record nine 3-pointers, including seven in the last eight minutes, to bring the Gaels (2-2) back from an eight-point deficit in the second half.
Schraeder led all scorers with 33 points, and spent the final six minutes of regulation trading baskets with Iowa State's Marcus Fizer, who led the Cyclones with 30 points.
Two free throws at 1:14 by the Gaels' Frank Allocco tied the game at 58, and it stayed there until the buzzer.
The Cyclones threatened to run away with it in overtime, but five free throws by St. Mary's brought the Gaels to 72-69.
Nurse missed two free throws, and with eight seconds left, Schraeder hit his final 3-pointer to even it up at 72. Nurse's last-second jumper brought him redemption and the Cyclones the win.
The Cyclones led by as much as seven midway through the first half, but St. Mary's closed to within one at the half, 27-26, on the strength of Allocco's 10 points.
UC 76, SOUTHERN UTAH 63
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