Jan 26, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - J.R. Patrick and Bakari Altheimer scored 12 points each to help Santa Clara hold off a furious St. Mary's rally and take a 66-63 victory Saturday night.
Brandon Rohe added 11 points and Jim Howell had a game-high nine rebounds for Santa Clara (11-7, 2-3 West Coast Conference), which snapped a three-game losing streak.
Ross Benson and Jonathan Sanders scored 10 points apiece to lead St. Mary's (9-8, 2-2).
After trailing much of the game, St. Mary's rallied late and closed to within one point, 64-63, when Adam Caporn sank a free throw with 27 seconds left.
Santa Clara hit two free throws and St. Mary's missed a three-point attempt in the closing seconds, sealing the victory for the Broncos.
Santa Clara jumped to a 12-2 lead at the start of the game and kept control throughout the first half. The Broncos led by as many as 16 points and were ahead 33-22 at halftime.