Behind Career Records Day For Three Seniors, Broncos Win At Portland For The First Time Since 2007

Behind Career Records Day For Three Seniors, Broncos Win At Portland For The First Time Since 2007

Portland, Ore. – With a number of Bronco career records being broken or tied by three of the Bronco seniors, including Kevin Foster moving to No. 2 all-time on the West Coast Conference career points list, Santa Clara posted its 20th win of the season with a 75-63 victory at Portland for the Broncos' first win in Portland since Feb. 10, 2007 (76-53).

Santa Clara is 20-9 and 8-6 in the WCC. Portland is 11-19 and 4-11 in the WCC.  Portland has won three of its last five games. Santa Clara has swept the season series with four WCC teams this year: Portland, Pepperdine, San Diego and USF.

Kevin Foster moved to No. 2 all-time in the WCC with 2,211 career points scored, passing LMU's Terrell Lowery (2,201, 1988-92). Foster tied the school record for career starts (116) and career field goals (712).  Raymond Cowels III and Marc Trasolini tied the school record for career games played (128).

Santa Clara was led by Foster's 20 points, his 58th career game with 19+.  Foster also collected seven assists and six rebounds. Marc Trasolini and Raymond Cowels III both scored 17 each, with Cowels III tying a season-high five threes and adding six rebounds. Yannick Atanga's 16 rebounds were a career-best for him (previous was 13).

Santa Clara shot 44.8 percent from the field (26 of 58), including 40.0 percent from beyond the arc (10 of 25). The Broncos hit 76.5 percent of their free throws (13 of 17).  They collected 46 rebounds, 14 assists, seven steals, three blocks and had 16 turnovers.

Kevin Bailey and Thomas van der Mars both scored 11 for the Pilots with Ryan Nicholas and K. Bailey both grabbing seven rebounds.  Derrick Rodgers had seven assists.  Portland shot 35.9 percent from the field (23 of 64), including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 18). They hit 68.8 percent of their free throws (11 of 16).  The Pilots collected 31 rebounds, 12 assists, six steals, six blocks and had 10 turnovers.

Atanga was whistled for goal-tending which game Rodgers the bucket at 19:24 to start.  Foster crushed a three and Cowels III then hit back-to-back threes at 18:37 and 17:59 to put SCU up 9-4.

Foster scored a pair of free throws at 17:32.  Foster's dandy pass to Trasolini eight feet out resulted in two.  Foster scored his second three of the game to put the Broncos up 16-4 at 16:22.  Timeout Portland.

Cowels III muscled his offensive board in for two at 15:45.  The Pilots scored their first basket in three minutes inside at 15:12 and Trasolini responded quickly with his own. 

John McArthur picked up two fouls in less than a minute and was forced to the bench at 13:01 with Riley scoring both from the charity stripe.  Foster floated in his third three of the day at 12:22.  The three pushed him to No. 2 all-time in the West Coast Conference with 2,202 points – passing Terrell Lowery of LMU (2,201 points, 1988-92).

Bryce Pressley scored his own three at 11:51.

Niyi Harrison scored two inside at 10:39 and Bailey followed for two at 10:20.  Cowels III scored his third three of the day at 10:09 to put SCU up 28-13.  Brandon Clark's first bucket of the day was followed by another by Bailey; the Broncos led 30-15.

Roquemore's three at 7:00 made it 33-17.  The Pilots scored two baskets to pull within 12 at 5:27.  Cowels III quieted the mini-Portland rally with his fourth three of the day at 4:15.  Foster was whistled for an offensive foul at 3:34. 

Roquemore scored an and one on a Rodger's foul at 3:13.  Foster's fourth three of the day tied him at No. 11 with Andrew Goudelock of College of Charleston (2008-11) with 396 career threes and the Broncos led 42-22 with 2:42 left.

Bailey scored a couple of free throws after being fouled by Roquemore at 1:47.  Van der Mars scored an and one at 1:12 after Foster picked up his second foul and then J. Clarke scored from eight feet out with 59 ticks left. 

After Roquemore scored his second foul to turn it over, K. Bailey scored a three at the buzzer to make it 44-30 at the half. 

Foster and Cowels III both scored 14 points in the first half with each hitting four threes.  Atanga had nine rebounds.  In the first half Santa Clara shot 50.0 percent from the field (16 of 32), including 60.0 percent from beyond the arc (9 of 15). They hit 60.0 percent of their free throws (3 of 5).  The Broncos collected 25 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, three blocks and had eight turnovers.

K. Bailey and van der Mars both had nine points in the first half.  Nicholas grabbed a team-high four boards.  Portland shot 36.7 percent from the field (11 of 30), including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc (2 of 6). They hit 66.7 percent of their free throws (6 of 9).  The Pilots collected 13 rebounds, five assists, one steal, five blocks and had four turnovers.

Portland started the second half on a 7-0 run and were on a 10-0 scoring rally dating back to the buzzer three in the first half. Nicholas scored a pair of free throws at 19:20 to start the second half.  He followed with a three at 18:41.  K. Bailey scored inside at 18:17. Timeout Broncos with Santa Clara leading 44-37.

SCU then went on a 7-0 run.  Roquemore drove the lane for a bucket at 17:39 to stop the run.  Trasolini scored inside on an and one at 16:59 and then a reverse lay-up at 16:09.  Pressley's three at 15:41 stopped the Bronco run, 51-40 SCU.  Trasolini scored his seventh straight Bronco point with a lay-in at 15:18.  B. Clark floated it in at 12:22, 55-42 Broncos.

Portland then went on an 8-0 run.  Vander Mars bucket at 10:02 was followed by Atanga's athletic dunk over the defender at 9:45.  Nicholas scored at 9:08 and Rodger's scored at 8:32 to pull the Pilots within nine, 57-48 Broncos. 

After a Nicolas free throw made at 7:26, Riley scored an and one to pull the Pilots within five, 57-52 at 6:25.  Trasolini's dunk at 5:05 stopped the run and he scored on a steal at 4:29. Timeout Portland at 4:19 with SCU up 61-52.  Ehlers buried a three at 4:08.  Cowels III answered with his fifth of the day at 3:38 – a tying a season best (at USF, Jan. 17, 2013).

Trasolini dunked it at 1:31 for his 17th point of the day.  Foster stepped to the free throw line and made both at 1:21 to put SCU up 68-56. After a Pilot score, Roquemore was fouled with 1:02 left and he missed it, but Atanga grabbed his 15th rebound and he was fouled.  Atanga made one at 1:02. 

Foster made two free throws to collect his 400 and 401st free throws of his career (third all-time) with 43 seconds left. Nicholas scored a three at 40.6 to pull within eight, 71-63.

Santa Clara won 75-63.

Game Notes

Kevin Foster started his 116th career game and he is tied for the school record set by Brian Jones (1996-01).  Playing in his 124th career game, Foster is now No. 5 in career games played with John Bryant (2005-09).

Foster also broke the school record for minutes played in a career, topping Kyle Bailey (2001-05) who played 3,897 career minutes. Foster has played 3,903 career minutes.

Raymond Cowels III and Marc Trasolini played in their 128th career game and tied with Ben Dowdell (2007-11) for the school record.  Trasolini is also seventh all-time with 100 career starts (Steve Kenilvort (1982-86).

Yannick Atanga started in place of Robert Garrett. It was his third start of the year.