University of Washington
New Mexico St
Huskies Hold Off Aggies, 81-77
November 25, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2000
SEATTLE (AP) - Greg Clark hit two free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining that finally put the game away as Washington withstood a late rally to defeat New Mexico State 81-77 on Saturday afternoon.
Washington led by eight points with two minutes remaining in the game, but made just 8 of 20 free throws down the stretch before Clark converted the final two.
Trailing by two points with 2.2 seconds left and possession, New Mexico State had one final opportunity to win, but Ryan McDermott's pass to Zack Norvell was long and out of bounds. Clark then put the game away with his two free throws.
Thalo Green scored 17 points for Washington (1-1), while Michael Johnson scored 15 and Will Perkins 14.
Eric Channing scored 24 points and James Moore 13 for New Mexico State (1-3).
Green scored 12 during a key late run that put Washington ahead for good. With Washington trailing by four, Green scored the first ten points of a 14-2 Washington run that gave the Huskies a 55-47 lead with 9:28 remaining in the game.
Brandon Mason's 3-pointer with 8.2 seconds remaining brought the Aggies to within 78-77, but they would get no closer.
The Huskies played their first game at the newly renovated Hec Edmundson Pavilion, which was originally constructed in 1927 and underwent a $40 million facelift that increased seating capacity to 10,000.
Washington has won 747 games at Edmundson Pavilion, more victories than any other NCAA team in its current arena.
There were eight lead changes in the first half, the last occurring as Marlon Shelton scored the final six points of an 8-0 Washington run that gave the Huskies a 23-20 lead with 4:28 remaining in the first half.
The Huskies led 30-28 at halftime.
