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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Best bet on the Tube

Alabama beat Oregon State and Villanova beat Purdue on Thursday at the 2K Sports Classic, setting up a championship showdown today (4 p.m., ESPN2) at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Down by as many as 15, the Beavers (2-1) tied it with 43 seconds left, but Rodney Cooper’s 3-pointer with 12.2 seconds left gave the Crimson Tide (3-0) the triumph in the early game. The Wildcats (3-0) knocked off the Boilermakers (1-2) in overtime in the nightcap. Villanova scored the last six points of regulation, all on free throws, to force the extra period. James Bell hit two big 3-pointers in overtime to help lift the Wildcats.