Jordan Ford scored a game-high 26 points Monday night, including a critical 3-pointer with 46.5 seconds left, as top-seeded Saint Mary's held off fifth-seeded Washington 85-81 in the second round of the NIT at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, Calif.

The Gaels improved to 30-5 and earned a home game in the NIT quarterfinals Wednesday night against Utah, which routed LSU 95-71. The Huskies finished their season at 21-13.

Ford's 3-pointer made it 82-76, and after a 3-ball by Jaylen Nowell with 33.8 seconds left pulled Washington within three, Ford drilled two more foul shots with 12.8 seconds remaining for an 84-79 edge. Following Nowell's dunk with 6.7 seconds on the clock, Ford added one last free throw with 3.8 ticks left to seal it.

Evan Fitzner added 20 points off the bench for Saint Mary's, while Jock Landale and Calvin Hermanson each tallied 14 points. Tanner Krebs chipped in 10.

Noah Dickerson scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead five Huskies in double figures. Nowell and Nahziah Carter each added 14 points, while Matisse Thybulle hit for 13 and David Crisp netted 12 points.

Saint Mary's spent most of the first three quarters carving up Washington's 2-3 zone, either getting clean looks for 3-pointers or scoring inside off postups or dribble penetration.

The Gaels only needed 6:19 of the first period to take a double-figure lead, getting a jumper from Fitzner to establish a 14-4 advantage. The Huskies pulled within five before Landale dunked with seven seconds left for a 20-13 margin after 10 minutes.

Washington was able to match Saint Mary's point-for-point in the second quarter, rallying from an early 11-point deficit to work its way back into the game. When Dominic Green drained a 3-pointer with 46 seconds left in the half, the Huskies trailed just 41-35.

But the Gaels created more separation with a 26-point third quarter, hitting four 3-pointers in the first 4 1/2 minutes for a 57-43 lead. They took that same 14-point lead to the fourth quarter after Ford sank two foul shots for a 67-53 advantage.

--Field Level Media