Al Grillo/AP Western Kentucky’s Courtney Lee (right) drives past Alaska Anchorage’s Cameron Burney on Friday during a Great Alaska Shootout consolation game in Anchorage, Alaska.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Matt Maresca’s biggest strength on Friday may well have been his hearing.

As the Hilltoppers held a shaky two-point lead with 15 seconds remaining against Alaska Anchorage, Western Kentucky’s Courtney Lee told his teammates during a timeout that he wanted the ball.

Maresca delivered the ball, and Lee - as he did for most of the game - delivered results.

Lee hit two game-clinching free throws to help WKU escape with a 71-67 win in the Great Alaska Shootout consolation semifinals.

“In the huddle, me and (Maresca) looked at each other, and I told him to get me the ball,” Lee said. “He told me he’d get me the ball, and that’s what he did.”

Lee finished with a game-high 28 points off 11-of-15 shooting from the field.

“When a guy like that on my team asks for the ball, I’m going to get it to him,” Maresca said.

Lee’s performance helped WKU overcome any lingering effects from an emotional 74-71 loss to No. 14 Gonzaga in Thursday night’s tournament opener. Less than 24 hours after that defeat, the Division II Seawolves tried but failed to take advantage.

The Hilltoppers now meet Michigan today in their tournament finale.

“I don’t know that you get over (Gonzaga) at any point in this game,” WKU coach Darrin Horn said. “You kind of play through it. It’s one you just have to get through, and I’m proud of them for that.”

WKU seemed ready to pull away from UAA in the final minutes. The Hilltoppers’ lead grew to 65-52 with 4:56 remaining and they led 67-57 with 3:05 remaining after Boris Siakam’s offensive rebound led to Maresca’s bucket.

But after Maresca scored, UAA went on an 8-0 run, cutting the Hilltoppers’ lead to 67-65 with 15 seconds remaining on a basket by Carl Arts.

Arts had a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds.

“We probably got a little too comfortable when we got that 10-point lead,” Maresca said. “We have to make sure that lead doesn’t get down to three or four points where we’re struggling to make sure we get the win.”

Lee preserved the win with two free throws with 13 seconds remaining. UAA got no closer.

“We fouled a guy that’s going to be on an All-American team,” UAA coach Rusty Osborne said. “He’s a special kid.”

Guard A.J. Slaughter was the only other HIlltopper in double figures with 14 points. Lee was especially a one-man show in the first half, during which the Hilltoppers trailed much of the time.

Lee had 19 first-half points and was 9-of-12 from the field. The rest of the Hilltoppers were 5-of-22 from the field.

“He’s good, he’s really good,” Alaska Anchorage forward Cameron Burney said. “We tried our best on him. We were trying to help out with him and take charges, but he has that quick pull-up jumper.”

Even with Lee, the Hilltoppers needed a late run to take a halftime lead. WKU’s 9-2 run over the final three minutes of the half gave the Hilltoppers a 34-29 halftime advantage.

WKU had trailed by as many as seven in the first half when the Seawolves’ Kevin White buried a 3-pointer with 11:05 remaining for a 20-13 lead.

“It definitely (was a tough turnaround for us),” Lee said. “Anytime you get a loss like (Thursday), you want to sit and think about it, and a million things run through your mind.”

The Hilltoppers fell behind 37-36 four minutes into the second half, but used an 11-0 run for their first double-digit lead of the game.

Maresca, Ty Rogers and Lee hit consecutive 3-pointers and Siakam capped the run on a dunk with 13:13 remaining for a 47-37 WKU cushion.

Alaska Anchorage also had two of its 21 turnovers during the run.

Along with forcing turnovers, WKU outrebounded UAA 34-25 and had 16 offensive rebounds - a contrast from Thursday, when WKU was outrebounded 43-30 and gave up 16 offensive boards.

“We knew today was going to be a challenge and they responded in a bounce-back game,” Horn said. “We found a way to finish out on top, and that was what was most important for us.”