LOS ANGELES — Isaiah Thomas hit a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer, lifting Washington past No. 16 Arizona 77-75 Saturday for the Pac-10 tournament championship in the first overtime title game in league history.
Thomas scored 19 of his 28 points in the first half, and freshman Terrence Ross added 16 for the third-seeded Huskies (23-10), who successfully defended their title and earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Pac-10 player of the year Derrick Williams had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the top-seeded Wildcats (27-7), who won the regular-season title.
Washington's C.J. Wilcox hit a 3-pointer that tied the game 68-all with 7 seconds left in regulation.
The Huskies outscored Arizona 9-7 in overtime, taking a 73-70 lead on a basket by Wilcox before Matthew Bryan-Amaning was called for his fifth foul.
Washington coach Lorenzo Romar stomped his foot, with his staff and players insisting Justin Holiday had committed the foul instead. Solomon Hill, who finished with 12 points, made both free throws to draw the Wildcats within one.
Thomas found Wilcox alone in the corner in front of the Huskies' bench and he took a few big steps and dunked for a 75-72 lead. Kevin Parrom's 3-pointer tied the game at 75, giving Washington a final possession with the threat of a second overtime looming.
But Thomas wouldn't allow it.
He calmly got off the jumper under pressure that sent Washington's fans into delirium as the first repeat Pac-10 tourney champions since Arizona won in 1990 and 2002, when the tourney resumed.