Dec 21, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Driving layups by Timmy Bowers and Branden Vincent in the final minute and a half of overtime lifted unbeaten Mississippi State to a come-from-behind 66-61 victory over Santa Clara Saturday night.
The Broncos fall to 6-5 on the season with the loss and play their fifth game in 10 days Monday night against the Retrievers of UMBC. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Leavey Center. Mississippi State improved to a perfect 9-0 to start the season.
After leading most of the game, Santa Clara led 52-44 with 4:44 remaining in regulation. But the Bulldogs rallied to tie the game when Winsome Frazier hit a three-point shot with 22.5 seconds left on the clock. Santa Clara failed to get a shot on its final possession and went into overtime tied at 57-apiece.
The Broncos led 61-59 after Kyle Bailey's basket with 2:30 left in overtime, but MSU's Lawrence Roberts hit a free throw at 2:13, and then Bowers drove for a layup and a 62-61 Bulldog lead with 1:32 left.
Vincent scored with 25 seconds left for a 64-61 advantage, and a Santa Clara turnover with 10 seconds remaining settled matters. Roberts led all scorers with 17 points, while Bowers scored 16 and Frazier 10.
Bailey led Santa Clara with 14 points, 12 in the second half. J.R. Patrick and Brandon Rohe each added 10 for the Broncos.
The outcome partially hinged on foul shooting. The Broncos made just one of nine free throws, while Mississippi State made 18 of 25. But, the stingy Santa Clara defense limited the Bulldogs to just 2-of-19 from beyond the three-point stripe and 40 percent shooting for the game.