Jan 16, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Jason Blair scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds, and Tom Lippold scored a season-high 20 points as San Diego defeated Santa Clara 82-73 Wednesday in the West Coast Conference.
Sam Adamo added 19 points as the Toreros (10-6, 2-1 WCC) won their third in four games in their sixth straight on the road. They haven't played in San Diego since Dec. 22. It was Blair's second double-double in his last three games.
Kyle Bailey scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the Broncos (6-10, 1-2), who lost for just the second time at home in seven games. Steve Ross added 16 points.
Santa Clara rebounded from a disastrous 1-8 start to the season to win five of its next six games before falling to the Toreros.
Lippold was 7-of-9 from the field, including a 4-of-6 effort from long range.
Andre Laws, San Diego's leading scorer with an 18.0 average, was held to single digits in scoring for the third straight game. He missed his first eight shots, finally hitting a 3-pointer with 3:47 remaining to play, giving the Toreros a 73-63 advantage.
The Toreros made their first five shots of the second half to open a 50-34 lead four minutes in, but Santa Clara responded with a 12-2 run to climb within 52-46 five minutes later. That's as close as the Broncos would come the rest of the night.
Lippold scored 12 of his points in the first seven minutes as San Diego took a 22-9 lead.
Santa Clara rallied somewhat and pulled within 38-31 by halftime.