ANCHORAGE ? Matt Bouldin scored 18 points and David Pendergraft converted a pair of layups in the final minutes to help 14th-ranked Gonzaga avoid the upset with a 74-71 win over Western Kentucky in the first round of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs (4-0), who also got 14 points from guard Micah Downs, fought back from a 7-point, second-half deficit to advance to Friday's late semifinal against Bob Knight and Texas Tech.

Senior All-America candidate Courtney Lee scored a game-high 21 points for WKU (3-1), but the Hilltoppers were hurt by 8-of-17 free throw shooting, plus foul trouble up and down the lineup.

The game featured nine ties and six lead changes, including an 8-0 run by WKU to start the second half that gave the Sun Belt Conference team a 42-36 lead. The Hilltoppers forged their largest advantage at 45-38 with 16:20 to play when point guard Tyrone Brazelton nailed a three-pointer.

Gonzaga fought back to tie it at 60-60 on a pair of free throws by Jeremy Pargo (12 points, 4-11 FG, 4-6 FT, 5 assists), and the game was tied at 66-66 after WKU's A.J. Slaughter (13 points, 6-12 FG) nailed a layup with 4:20 left.

The Zags took the lead for good on the ensuing possession when Pendergraft ? the team's senior leader ? made a back-door cut and converted Bouldin's pass into a layup. Pendergraft hit another layin a minute later to stretch it to 70-66.

The Hilltoppers got within 70-69, but Lee missed the potential tying free throw with 1:54 to play. Downs then made a pair of free throws and Robert Sacre scored off a rebound with 21 seconds left to make it 74-69 and seal the game.

The Gonzaga-Texas Tech game will be streamed live on ESPN360 at 8 p.m. AST.

WKU falls into the consolation bracket where it will face host school Alaska Anchorage (2-1) at 2 p.m. Friday.