Broncos Clip Cross-Town Rivals San Jose State 75-54

Broncos Clip Cross-Town Rivals San Jose State 75-54

SCU Season Stats

Travelling a couple miles across San Jose, Santa Clara picked up its seventh win of the year behind the 16 points of Evan Roquemore with a 75-54 victory over San Jose State.  Santa Clara is 7-2 and San Jose State is 5-4.  Santa Clara travels to Stockton on Sat., Dec. 15 for a 5 pm game with Pacific.

SCU now leads the all-time series 74-29 against SJSU.  Since 1980, Santa Clara has played San Jose State 31 times and Santa Clara has won 21 of those meetings. Santa Clara has won nine of the last 11 meetings vs. the Spartans, including the last four of five games. 

"Winning a rivalry game on the road is a big deal for us.  We did a good job of contesting a lot of shots. They have been pretty good on the boards. They have some bigs that will put some pressure on you and we didn't give in when they did get an offensive board," said Bronco head coach Kerry Keating. 

Santa Clara shot 46.6 percent from the field (27 of 58), including 40.0 percent from the three-point line (8 of 20).  The Broncos collected 16 assists, nine blocks, 40 rebounds, eight steals and 17 turnovers.  San Jose State shot 25.0 percent from the field (15 of 60), including 42.9 from the three-point line (6 of 14).  The Spartans collected nine assists, six blocks, 41 rebounds, one steal and 18 turnovers. 

Santa Clara was led by Roquemore's 16 points and five assists.  He said he felt really comfortable tonight, especially knowing he was well-prepared.  "It all starts with defense and we were big tonight," said Roquemore.  "By us getting those stops in the first half, it really helped us."

Raymond Cowels III added 13 points and Kevin Foster had 11 points with six assists and two steals.  Foster passed Adam Morrison of Gonzaga (2003-06, 1867 points) to move to No. 12 on the West Coast Conference career points scored list with 1,872 career points.  Marc Trasolini had nine points and nine rebounds. 

The media pointed out the Santa Clara scoring was pretty balanced tonight.  "Anytime you can do that - spread out the scoring, it's going to be a bonus. We have some guys that can score the ball, but it was pretty balanced. We can share the ball and we picked up a lot of assists tonight and that helped us," said Keating.  "Our focus was really good tonight."

Robert Garrett opened the Bronco scoring with a dunk at 19:36.  After a Kinney bucket, Trasolini scored inside at 18:35.

Cowels III sank a couple of free throws at 17:25 and after a Kinney three, Cowels III responded with one of his own at 16:50.  

The Broncos went up 14-5 on a three by Roquemore.  The Spartans went on a 7-2 run before Garrett blocked one of Smith's shots.  

The Broncos then went on a 12-0 run.  B. Clark knocked down a three at 9:59.  Foster stole the ball and threw it down to a streaking McArthur who laid it in at 9:39.  And just like that, the Broncos led 21-12.

"The 12-0 run helped us. We had to keep Kinney in check and that run helped us. That probably frustrated them a little bit and helped us in the long run," said Keating. 

McArthur hit a free throw and then Foster sank a 10-footer at 8:20 to put the Broncos up 24-12.  Roquemore sank a jumper at 6:27 to make it 31-14.

Kinney scored the Spartans first field goal since 11:06 with a bucket inside at 5:20 to make it 31-17 SCU.   After Trasolini missed a pair of free throws, DJ Brown sank one at 4:21.  Kinney sank a way-out three to pull the Spartans within 10 at 3:35. Roquemore sank three free throws after he was fouled shooting a three at 3:35.  Foster scored a layup off a streaking assist from Roquemore on the steal to put the Broncos up 36-22 at 2:55.

DJ Brown sank four straight free throws over the span of a minute for SJSU.  Alex Brown was whistled for goal-tending on Johnson's bucket inside.  SCU closed out the half on a 6-0 run. Cowels III stripped a Spartan player running the court and he laid it in to put SCU up 44-25 with 25 seconds left in the half.

Santa Clara led 44-25 at the half.  In the first half Santa Clara shot 48.4 percent from the field (15 of 31), including 36.4 percent from the three-point line (4 of 11).  The Broncos collected seven assists, two blocks, 23 rebounds, six steals and had eight turnovers.  They were 10 of 14 from the free throw line.  San Jose State shot 30.4 percent from the field (7 of 23), including 42.9 from the three-point line (3 of 7).  The Spartans collected six assists, three blocks, 12 rebounds, no steals and had 10  turnovers. 

Garrett started off the scoring in the second half put it the bucket inside. Foster scored back-to-back floaters at 18:41 and 17:45 to put SCU up 50-30.  Foster scored his first three at 16:18, giving him 340 threes in his career. 

Alex Brown whistled for goal-tending again on a Trasolini shot, but Brown dunked it on their next possession at 14:05.

Kinney scored his 19th point and his fourth three of the night to pull the Spartans within 16. But B. Clark snarred a steal and tossed it to Roquemore who buried it for a three at 12:47.

Garrett scored inside at 11:07 to give the Broncos a 20 point lead again, 62-42.  Cowels III crushed a three from the corner on a dandy pass from Foster.  Trasolini slammed home the ball off another nice pass from Foster inside, 70-49 Broncos at 5:20. Cowels III scored his 13th point of the game on a three from the corner again. 

Kyle Perricone checked in with two minutes to go and missed his only three-point attempt.

Game Notes: Starting for the Broncos were Marc Trasolini, Kevin Foster, Evan Roquemore, Raymond Cowels III and Robert Garrett. It was Garrett's second straight career start.