Nov 26, 2003
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) - Doron Perkins scored a season-high 15 points to lead Santa Clara to a 76-62 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday night in the seventh-place game of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational.
"I was really concerned with our intensity level in our first two games," said Santa Clara Head Coach Dick Davey, who evened his record in Maui to 3-3 with the win. "It is hard with a young squad to keep the players fresh and make substitutions, yet maintain defensive intensity. I thought we made some positive adjustments in our substitution patters and our guys responded.
"If we can maintain the intensity and energy levels we displayed today, we have a chance to have a team that could see some success as the year progresses. The energy we showed today was five times better than yesterday against Villanova and 10 times better than in our first game."
The Broncos (1-2) led 38-26 at halftime and took their biggest lead at 58-40 on a layup by Brandon Rohe with 9:56 to play.
The Chippewas (0-3) then went on a 13-3 run to get to 61-53 with 5:07 left on a 3-pointer by Tom Pantlind, their third 3 in the run.
Santa Clara took back control by holding the Chippewas scoreless for the next 2½ minutes and a short jumper by Perkins made it 65-53 with 2:52 to play.
"I came off the bench today and my main job was to provide a spark to the team," said Perkins, who electrified the crowd with a high-flying blocked shot late in the game and just missed a three-point attempt at the other end just seconds later. "We came out today with the itent to step it up and we did that. I think we all gave it everything we had and it paid off with the win."
Travis Niesen added 10 points for the Broncos, who finished with a 42-28 rebound advantage and were 17-for-24 from the free-throw line compared with Central Michigan's 7-for-10.
Gerrit Brigitha led the Chippewas with 12 points.
The Central Michigan played the game after learning of the death of teammate Brent Edwards, a walk-on who didn't make the trip. Edwards, 21, died Tuesday of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Monday in Michigan.
The team planned to leave Hawaii on Thursday, returning to Michigan on Friday so members could attend Edwards' funeral Saturday in Flushing, Mich.
Edwards played in three games last season with a total of two points and two rebounds.