Nevada rallies past Buffalo, into finals

ANCHORAGE – Marcus Marshall scored 23 points and Cameron Oliver delivered a double-double Friday to lead Nevada to a hard-fought 67-62 men's basketball victory over Buffalo in the semifinals of the GCI Great Alaska Shootout at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Wolf Pack (5-1) got 12 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots from Oliver as they advanced to the 39-year-old tournament's championship game for the first time. They will play the winner of the late semifinal between Iona and Weber State on Saturday at 8 p.m. AST on CBS Sports Network.

The Bulls (3-2) were led by Blake Hamilton's 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals, but the team's top scorer was limited to 3-of-18 shooting, including 1 of 6 from long range.

Buffalo led through the first 12 minutes of the second half but could not stretch its advantage higher than 51-46 with 11 minutes left. Nevada's Lindsey Drew fed Elijah Foster for a jumper at the 8:13 mark, then drained a three-pointer on the next possession to stake his team to a 59-58 lead – one it would not relinquish.

Oliver scored the Wolf Pack's final basket with 5:18 left and Buffalo's Willie Connor hit a short jumper with 4 minutes showing to make it 67-62, but neither team cracked the scoreboard again.

Buffalo will play the loser of the Iona/Weber State contest for third place Saturday at 5:30 p.m. AST.

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