Dec. 28, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Ethan Rohde scored a career-high 22 points as Santa Clara defeated Princeton 77-71 in the championship game of the Cable Car Classic on Saturday night.
"Once that first shot goes in the second one comes a little easier," said Rohde. "I have the confidence in myself to be able to do that night in and night out, but tonight was one of those nights where things just clicked for me.
Jim Howell added 15 points for the Broncos (8-3), who won their second straight tournament title and third in last four years.
Santa Clara won its fourth straight overall and matched its best start in five years.
Spencer Gloger, the only Tiger to reach double figures in every game this season, scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half to lead Princeton (4-6), which also lost to the Broncos in the 1990 Cable Car Classic championship game. Ed Persia added a career-high 20 points.
The Tigers, who matched their season high with 11 steals, took their first lead since the game's opening moments when Persia picked up a loose ball and drove for a layup early in the second half.
The lead changed hands four times and was tied six other times over the next several minutes, with neither team leading more than four points.
The Broncos finally broke loose and went on an 15-0 run to open a 66-53 lead with less than three minutes to play. Rohde hit a key 3-pointer during the rally.
Princeton drew within three points with 38 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Ray Robins but the Broncos made enough free throws down the stretch to hold on.
Santa Clara grabbed a 22-9 advantage in the game's first 12 minutes as the Broncos shot 54 percent from the floor during the run. Princeton missed 11 of its first 15 shots and committed four turnovers.
The Tigers turned things around in the final seven minutes of the first half, making seven of their next nine shots - including a 6-of-7 effort from 3-point range - to draw within 33-32 of Santa Clara at halftime.
Joining Rohde on the All-Tournament were teammates Jim Howell and Brandon Rohe, Attarius Norword from Mississippi Valley State and Spencer Gloger from Princeton.