The UP Fighting Maroons avoided a collapse in the final two minutes to defeat the NU Bulldogs, 80-79, in the UAAP Season 82 Men's Basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, September 18.
Kobe Paras led the UP with 25 points and six rebounds, while Bright Akhuetie added 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Maroons jumped out to a ten-point lead early in the final period and fought off a late charge to defeat the Bulldogs.
Trailing by seven points with less than two minutes, the Bulldogs made a run and cut the deficit to one, 79-80, with 11.6 seconds left, after Dave Ildefonso nailed a tough three pointer.
David Murrell missed his two free-throws in the next play to give NU one last shot. However, John Lloyd Clemente failed to convert his shot giving the UP their third victory.
Ildefonso finished with 25 points on 7-of-15 shooting for NU. Issa Gaye contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.
NU, who suffered its third one-point loss in four games, dropped to 0-4 record.