He had forged the overtime on a layup with 42 seconds left in regulation and then a 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds remaining to tie it at 81. Those clutch baskets came after he had missed successive shots and two free throws once Arizona had rallied to take the lead.

Then, at the end of the first overtime, Roy leaned in on a 3-pointer between Arizona’s Williams and Adams at the buzzer as he shot. The ball went through as Roy’s hands were pressing down on the floor to brace his fall.

“It was a miracle shot,” Roy said. “It felt like a dream.”

Adams and the Wildcats had a nightmare of a first half. Adams had nine points at halftime while Arizona shot just 28 percent — including 1-for-15 from 3-point range — to fall behind 40-27.

Arizona coach Lute Olson ripped into his team for the same symbol of consistent excellence Adams ultimately trumpeted.

“I told them at the end of the half I was embarrassed to see ’Arizona’ across their chests,” Olson said. “We had guys out there looking scared in the first half.”

Olson was riled up long before halftime. The stately looking 71-year-old sweated through his dress shirt within the game’s first 10 minutes. He stomped. He punched air. At one point, he nearly ripped the sports coat off his shoulders. He also charged toward an official during a second-half timeout before Adams restrained him.

Quite a way to become the 15th coach in NCAA history (all levels) to win 750 games.

And quite a way for Arizona to respond at being unranked the last two weeks — after 312 consecutive weeks in the regular season Top 25.

“I assume we will drop out of the top 35 now,” Olson said sarcastically. “We were No. 24 when we went to Utah then dropped out of the Top 25. We only won by 30 at Utah, of course.

“I hope now we can stay in the top 35.”

Arizona rallied after Olson’s halftime “pep” talk within 49-46 over the first 3½ minutes of the second half. The Wildcats made their first three 3-point shots of the half and forced six turnovers. It also forced Washington out of the zone defense it used to turn the Wildcats cold.

Jamaal Williams added 22 points for Washington and Appleby had 12 — all on 4-for-5 3-point shooting in the first half.

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