Dec 29, 2001
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Box Score| Quotes| All-Tournament Team
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Santa Clara's Justin Holbrook blocked a last-second shot by Jacoby Atako to preserve the Broncos' 61-59 victory Saturday night over UC-Santa Barbara in the title game of the Cable Car Classic.
Santa Clara's Brian Vaka missed the front end of a one-and-one with 14.7 seconds left. After a time out, UC-Santa Barbara (8-3) worked for a final shot.
But Santa Clara (4-8) kept the Gauchos from working the ball inside, and Atako was forced to take an off-balance three-point shot that Holbrook swatted.
The Gauchos led 24-22 at halftime, and the lead changed hands several times in the second half.
Santa Clara's Steve Ross, who scored 15 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, hit a three-point shot with 53 seconds left to give the Broncos a 59-56 lead. A foul shot by Jason Morrissette with 33 seconds left made it 60-56 before a three-point play by the Gauchos' Nick Jones cut the lead to 60-59 with 16.9 seconds left.
Santa Clara's Kyle Bailey hit a free throw with 15.9 seconds remaining to make it 61-59 and set up the final drama.
Bailey scored 16 points and was voted the tournament's most valuable player. Mark Hull led UC-Santa Barbara with 20 points.
Earlier, Maryland-Baltimore County defeated Detroit 60-57 in the third-place game.
