San Diego, Calif. – With Evan Roquemore scoring all 21 of his points in the second half and freshman Denzel Johnson continuing to impress with 20 of his own, the Broncos second half rally fell just a couple possessions short as Santa Clara lost 70-65 at San Diego.
Santa Clara falls to 8-15 and 0-10 in WCC play. San Diego is 9-14 and 4-7 in the WCC. Santa Clara travels to USF for an 8 pm ESPNU-televised game on Thur., Feb. 9.
Santa Clara shot 37.7 percent from the field (23 of 61), including 21.1 percent beyond the arc (4 of 19). They collected 33 rebounds, 11 assists, seven blocks and seven steals. The Broncos shot 83.3 percent from the charity stripe (15 of 18) and turned the ball over 12 times.
Individually Roquemore scored all 21 of his in the second half, hitting six of six from the free throw line; and he also added four assists and two rebounds. Johnson scored 20, hitting 8 of 12 from the field, including 2 of 4 from the three. Yannick Atanga grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
San Diego shot 38.8 percent from the field (19 of 49), including 50.0 percent beyond the arc (7 of 14). They collected 39 rebounds, 10 assists, six blocks and six steals. USD shot 64.1 percent from the charity stripe (25 of 39) and turned the ball over 13 times.
Individually for USD Johnny Dee scored 19. Chris Anderson added 13 and a team-high four assists. Chris Manresa led USD with 10 rebounds.
USD started the game on an 11-2 run, including a three by Dee at 18:21. McArthur put the Broncos on the board with a bucket inside at 17:55.
McArthur scored from eight feet out at the top of the key at 16:34. B. Clark stole the ball and on the trip down the floor Harrison was fouled and he sank both at 16:23, 11-6 USD.
On a 9-0 run, USD took an 20-6 lead at 13: 30 on a couple inside baskets, two more Rancifer free throws and a three by Sinis.
The Broncos laced together an 11-1 run. McArthur was fouled inside at 12:21 and he sank both. Johnson then scored nine straight for the Broncos. He scored from eight feet out at 11:03 and then hit back-to-back floaters at 9:55 and 9:19. He hit a three from the corner at 8:36 to pull the Broncos within five, 22-17. Timeout USD.
Dee stopped the run with back-to-back threes at 7:40 and 6:29 to put USD up 28-17. Johnson stopped the USD run with a bucket at 6:20, but picked up his second foul after and hit the bench.
Cowels III was fouled by Miles shooting and he sank both at 5:05. Manresa tipped it in at 4:34 and then Dee sank two free throws to put USD up 33-21 at 3:26.
Cowels III scored a put-back with 1:51. The Toreros led 35-23 at the half.
In the first half Santa Clara shot 30.8 percent from the field (8 of 26), including 11.1 percent beyond the arc (1 of 9). They collected 18 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and three steals. The Broncos shot 75.0 percent from the charity stripe (6 of 8) and turned the ball over 10 times. Individually the Broncos were led by Johnson's 11 points on 5 of 5 shooting, including 1 of 1 from the three. Harrison and Cowels III grabbed three rebounds each.
In the first half San Diego shot 33.3 percent from the field (11 of 33), including 40.0 percent beyond the arc (4 of 10). They collected 24 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and six steals. USD shot 64.3 percent from the charity stripe (9 of 14) and turned the ball over five times. Individually USD was led by Dee's 11 points. Manresa collected five rebounds.
Dee hit his fourth three to start the second half at 19:31. After Johnson scored at 18:36, Anderson drilled a three at 17:33 and Fajernisin hit a free throw to put USD up 19, its largest lead thus far (45-26).
The Broncos weren't done yet, going on a 10-1 run. Roquemore scored a pair of free throws at 16:47 and then Johnson added another pair at 16:27.
Roquemore scored an and one at 14:50 and pumped it in at 13:53 for a bucket. Johnson took a sweet pass from Roquemore and turned it into three at 13:31. Timeout USD.
After Manresa scored a single free throw, Harrison tipped it in at 12:11. Harrison picked up his fourth foul and Manresa made both, 53-42 at 11:29.
Miles scored a spinning layup at 10:25 and Roquemore hit a three at 10:00. He had been 0-14 from beyond the arc dating back to the first half of the Pepperdine game.
Dee answered back with one of his own, his fifth of the game at 8:33.
The Broncos then went on a 9-1 run. Yannick Atanga scored inside at 6:32, 5:37 and 5:04 with the last being a dunk. B. Clark shot an easy three from the top of the key at 3:29. Timeout USD up 62-56 at 3:18.
Roquemore dumped it inside after a Manresa free throw. Jordan Awenuke stole the ball on the inbounds and Johnson responded with a bucket, 63-60 USD.
USD scored to stop the run and then SCU was whistled for a foul and Anderson sank both to make the lead seven at 1:24.
Roquemore scored an and one at 1:13 to make it 67-63 USD. He had all 19 in the second half.
Dee's three attempt with time winding down was off and Atanga snatched the rebound.
Santa Clara kept chipping away in the final minute and pulled within three on a pair of free throws from Roquemore at 12.6.