OGDEN -- Damian Lillard entered the game leading the nation in scoring at 25.6 points per game, but as the clock wound down in regulation against San Jose State, he only had 21.
That changed in a hurry.
Lillard buried a huge 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds to tie the game at the end of regulation, was called for a shot clock violation at the end of the first overtime, then dominated the second OT.
With 10.7 seconds remaining, Lillard slashed to the basket for a layup, then converted the old-fashioned 3-point play for the game-winner in a 91-89 Weber State victory against a scrappy Spartans team.
Lillard's final tally: a career-high 41 points, coming on the heels of a 36-point outburst in a loss Monday at Saint Mary's. He is the first Wildcat to score 40 points in a game since Harold Arceneaux did it in February 2000.
"It was amazing. That's all you can really say," Weber State coach Randy Rahe said. "For him to do what he did, playing 45 minutes and taking 21 shots, he does everything very well. He got to the free throw line, obviously made some 3s, assisted the ball, rebounded the ball."
San Jose State guard James Kinney tried to keep pace, finishing with 28 points, but against Lillard, it was impossible.
With the Wildcats (5-1) finally appearing to get some separation in the second overtime, Kinney launched a pair of 3-pointers and guard Keith Shamburger dropped in a pair of free throws as San Jose State (3-5) retook the lead at 89-88.
Then Lillard struck again and the Wildcats swiped the ball on the Spartans' final possession, sending Lillard flying down court for an emphatic slam dunk that came after the buzzer but sent the Purple Palace faithful into a frenzy anyway.
"We needed every bit of (Lillard's performance) tonight," Rahe said. "We were in an absolute dogfight. Damian's the kind of kid that he'll just take what you give him. He's a very intelligent player in that he gets everybody involved and then reads the situation."
Saturday's situation called for the second-most points in a game by a Weber State player in school history, behind a 45-point game by Stan Mayhew.
Five of Lillard's 41 points came in one lightning-fast sequence in the second overtime as he dropped in a layup, then turned around to swipe the inbounds pass and got fouled again for a 3-point play.
Weber State's win came with a cost. All-Big Sky Conference senior forward Kyle Bullinger left in the first half with a possible dislocated right elbow in the same game he made his 100th career start. Bullinger has started every game of his career, but his streak is likely over.
Weber State trailed 34-31 at the break, the first time the Wildcats have been behind at the break this season.
Kyle Tresnak had 13 points and Scott Bamforth added 12 for the Wildcats.
Wil Carter had a career-high 19 points for San Jose State, Calvin Douglas added 18 and Shamburger had 16 points.
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