Jan. 22, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - John Cox scored a game-high 21 points and hit two crucial baskets in the final minute and a half Wednesday to lift San Francisco to a come-from-behind 55-52 victory over Santa Clara.
The Dons (7-10, 2-2) trailed the entire second half until Cox hit a three-point shot with 1:28 remaining to tie the game at 49.
Then, after Santa Clara turned the ball over, Cox drove across the lane for a basket from close range that put USF ahead 51-49.
USF's Shamell Stallworth kept the Dons in command by hitting four foul shots in the final minute. Stallworth scored 17 points for San Francisco, while James Bayless scored 10 and had a game-high eight rebounds.
Bakari Altheimer scored 13 points to lead Santa Clara, and Jim Howell added 10.
Santa Clara (10-7, 1-3) held a 28-20 halftime lead. USF led 16-10 with 12:47 left in the first half, but Santa Clara tied the game at 20 with 6:33 left, and the Dons didn't score again.
The Broncos made 61 percent of their shots in the first half to USF's 35 percent.
Santa Clara made the first basket of the second half to grab its biggest lead of the game at 30-20, but USF then scored six consecutive points to quickly get back into the game. Santa Clara has lost three straight games and four of its last five.
The Broncos return to action Saturday in a 7 p.m. home matchup against Saint Mary's College. Tickets are available by calling the SCU Athletic Ticket Office at 408/554-4660 or by selecting the ticket link on the left side of this page. Fans purchasing a ticket to the afternoon baseball season-opener against Stanford will receive free admission to the basketball game. Additionally, those holding a basketball ticket will receive admission to the baseball game as well.