Dec. 19, 2001
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Wes Burtner scored a season-high 29 points as Belmont University defeated Santa Clara, 78-71, on Wednesday night to capture third place in the Stanford Invitational.
Steve Drabyn scored 17 points and Adam Mark added 14 as the Bruins (5-4) snapped a two-game losing streak and won their first game in California in five tries.
Steve Ross scored 18 points to lead the Broncos (1-8), off to their worst start in 31 years. Brian Vaka and Justin Holbrook each had 11 points.
The Broncos held a 58-49 lead with 14:17 remaining to play after a three-point play by Jim Howell.
Burtner hit a jumper to spark a 21-4 run that gave Belmont its first lead of the game. Burtner scored seven points in the run as the Bruins maintained their lead the rest of the way.
The Broncos drew as close as 72-69 in the final two minutes before Belmont held on for the victory.
David Emslie's jumper gave Santa Clara a 26-10 lead midway through the first half, its biggest lead before settling for a 45-40 lead at the intermission. The Broncos shot 63 percent from the floor in the half, while the Bruins shot 51 percent.
Belmont, in its fifth season as an NCAA Division I member, also played Santa Clara in its first season at Division I, dropping a 70-44 decision on Jan. 2, 1998.
No. 13 Stanford and Portland State played later for the championship.
