Box Score Marcus Robinson nailed a pair of free throws with 8.2 seconds left to help host Alaska Anchorage rally from a 12-point second-half deficit and upset High Point, 66-65, in the finale for both teams of the 2004 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout Saturday at Anchorage's Sullivan Arena.

Zione White scored 17 points to lead HPU (1-3), which was playing its third game in less than 48 hours after facing perennial powers Oklahoma and Utah. Danny Gathings had 15 points and eight rebounds and Jerry Echenique contributed 14 points and seven boards.

In a game that started at 10:00 am local time, the Panthers led 62-52 after a White layup with 7:30 to play, but were outscored 14-3 the rest of the way. UAA shut High Point down for the final 4:25 of the contest.

Brian Hills led the Seawolves with 28 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

As the clock ticked down, Robinson, a transfer from Florida International, had the ball on the left wing. HPU guard Akeem Scott drew contact and fell backwards, Robinson took two dribbles, tripped over Scott and the foul was whistled with 8.2 seconds left.

Following the two free throws, the Panthers had one last chance, but Scott missed a running 15-foot jumper with three seconds to go and time expired before the Panthers could corral the rebound.

After a slow start, HPU used an 12-3 run to take its first lead at 14-12 following two White free throws at the 12:03 mark of the first half. The lead changed hands seven times before halftime, with the Seawolves scoring seven of the final nine points of the half to claim a 36-32 advantage at intermission.

High Point came out of the break on a 22-6 run and built its biggest lead at 54-42 on a three-pointer by White with 12:01 to play. The Seawolves scored the next eight points to pull within 54-50, but the Panthers took a 62-54 advantage following another White layup.

HPU was only able to add three more points the rest of the way, on a Scott free throw with 5:59 left and a dunk by Patrick Hilliman (who had a career-high four blocks) with 4:25 to go. The Panthers led 65-58 at that point.

But Hills led UAA back with baskets on consecutive possessions, and James Hartman pulled the Seawolves within 65-64 with 2:43 left.

Gathings came up with a big steal with 1:29 to play, and Scott pulled down an offensive rebound to give the Panthers a fresh shot clock following a Gathings miss on the other hand with 59 seconds to go. But Chris Meeks missed a three-pointer with 30 seconds left and Hartman pulled down the rebound. The final sequence ensued following a UAA timeout.

Alaska Anchorage held a 44-38 advantage on the boards and made 24-of-28 shots from the charity stripe. Robinson (12 points, four assists) was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line.

The Seawolves have knocked off at least one Division I squad in 22 of 27 Great Alaska Shootouts and 38 D-I teams overall, including Michigan, Wake Forest, Missouri and Texas.

After a long trip home, High Point makes a much shorter journey across Guilford County to meet local rival North Carolina A&T Tuesday night (7:30 pm). The Panthers, who beat the Aggies 88-63 last season, will then host Greensboro College Thursday in the Millis Center before leaving for another road trip which includes stops at NCAA Tournament regulars Creighton (Dec. 4) and Michigan (Dec. 7).

Photo courtesy UAA Sports Information