San Francisco, Calif. - Hitting six threes for 27 points while collecting 10 rebounds to score his first career double-double, Santa Clara senior Kevin Foster led the Broncos to a 85-54 romp over USF on the Hilltop on Thursday night. Already the West Coast Conference career threes leader, Foster moved up to No. 21 on the NCAA Division I list with 372 career threes.
It was the Broncos first regular season sweep of the Dons since 2008. It was the sixth time this season the Broncos have won a game by 20 or more points and their largest victory in WCC play since a 32-point win (87-55) vs. USF on Feb. 25, 2008.
Santa Clara is 13-6 and 2-3 in the WCC. USF is 7-11 and 0-5 in the WCC.
"I am really happy for our team to get a win after a tough stretch," said Bronco head coach Kerry Keating. "They are a good team. They are well coached and this is a rivalry game. We did a great job of rebounding on the defensive end and it was a great win."
Foster's 27 points led the Broncos, including six of nine from beyond the arc. He added 10 rebounds to collect his first career double-double in 114 games. Foster moved to No. 4 on the West Coast Conference all-time scorers list, moving past No. 4 Forrest McKenzie of LMU (2,060 points, 1981-86). Raymond Cowels III scored a season-high 17 points with five threes, also a season-high. Cowels III crept closer to 1,000 career points as he finished the night with 921.
"Coach Keating asked me to make a more concentrated effort on the defensive end with rebounding so I can push the fast break because I can keep it," said Foster. "I have been focusing on taking good shots because if I do in games, I will make them."
Foster was asked which he preferred - 27 points or 10 rebounds? "Honestly, the win. at the end of the day if I do those things, we are more sure of winning. I have been watching a lot of film this week with the assistant coaches to help me take better shots."
Keating said he was pleased with the way Foster and Marc Trasolini, the two fifth year seniors, responded in practice this week. "This is a tough week for us with two road games and this is a good start."
Evan Roquemore scored 10 points and added five assists and three steals. Marc Trasolini had 11 rebounds and six points. Niyi Harrison and Yannick Atanga scored six each. Julian Clarke had seven.
USF was led by Matt Christiansen's 12 points. He was the only Don in double figures. Cody Doolin scored eight, but turned it over five times. Cole Dickerson scored seven with five turnovers as well.
Santa Clara shot 50.8 percent from the field (32-63), including 46.7 percent from beyond the arc (14-30). The Broncos shot 58.3 percent from the free throw line, hitting seven of 12. SCU ollected 42 rebounds, 14 assists, three blocks, eight steals and had 12 turnovers.
USF shot 32 percent from the field (16-50), including 15 percent from beyond the arc (3-19). The Dons shot 79.2 percent from the free throw line, hitting 19 of 24. USF collected 29 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks, nine steals and had 15 turnovers.
Doolin and Foster traded baskets to start the game. Cowels III buried a three at 17:26 and another at 16:46. After Tao Xu scored inside at 16:18, Roquemore crushed a three at 16:00 to put SCU up 11-7.
Atanga scored inside and the team's traded free throws with SCU moving ahead 14-8 at 14:07.
USF scored a couple inside before the Broncos went on a 12-2 run from 12:44-5:20.
Harrison tossed one in over Xu and the Broncos led 16-12 at 10:59. Doolin scored a pair of free throws at 10:50, but Foster answered with a three at 9:46. Walters whistled for time after Trasolini dunked one-handed on Dickerson at 9:11. Foster's three from the top of the key at 7:15 and Cowels III hitting a pair of free throws made it 26-14 at 6:27.
Christiansen's attempt inside rolled in for the Dons at 5:20 - the Dons first basket since 12:44.
McArthur answered inside at 4:59 to answer. Foster crushed a three at 3:56 for his third of the night. Trasolini's basket inside made it 35-22 with a minute left in the first half. Christianen added a basket with 45 seconds left to make it 35-24 Broncos at the half.
In the first half Santa Clara was led by Foster's 12 points. Santa Clara shot 37.5 percent from the field (12 of 32), including 40.0 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 15). The Broncos shot 55.6 percent from the free throw line, hitting 5 of 9. SCU collected 24 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, four steals and had six turnovers.
USF was led by Christiansen's 10 points. USF shot 30.8 percent from the field (8 of 26), including missing all five three point attempts. The Dons shot 80.0 percent from the free throw line, hitting 8 of 10. USF collected 18 rebounds, four assists, one block, four steals and had seven turnovers.
Broncos flew out of the lockerroom in the second half, starting off on a 17-2. Cowels III hit his third three of the game to start the second half at 19:49. Atanga followed inside at 18:08 and Trasolini flew past a pair of Dons defenders for a rim-rattling dunk at 17:42. Walter whistled for time, trying to stop the bleeding.
Foster went on a 8-0 run on his own. Foster crushed a three at 16:27. He followed it with another at 15:45 - his fifth of the game. It was his 22nd game in his career with five plus threes. Foster scored a pair of free throws at 14:18.
Cowels III knocked his fourth three of the game on a sweet pass by Roquemore at 12:16. The Broncos led 55-30 when the Dons called their fourth timeout of the game at 11:29.
Cowels III hit his fifth three of the game to match Foster at 11:13. It was a career-high for Cowels III. Roquemore scored at 9:51 to put SCU up 62-35 after a Dons three. Dickerson hit a three at 9:20. Doolin added a pair of free throws at 8:51.
Harrison laid it on a dandy pass by Foster at 8:16, Broncos led by 24 (64-40). Foster's sixth three of the night came at 7:33 and he added a bucket inside at 6:39.
McArthur scored inside and then J. Clarke added a basket at 1:52 to put SCU up 80-51. J. Clarke crushed a three at 1:07 to put SCU up 83-53. The Broncos held on to win 85-54.
Raymond Cowels III has hit two or more three-pointers in three consecutive games.
Kevin Foster moved up to No. 21 on the NCAA's all-time three-pointers made list and finished the game with 372. Foster entered the game tied for No. 25 all-time with 366.
The Broncos grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the first half.
From 16:34 to 12:20, Foster scored eight consecutive Santa Clara points.
Santa Clara shot 46.7 from beyond the arc, 10 percent higher than its 36 percent season average.