FAIRFAX, Va. -- The Santa Clara Broncos used a big second half and claimed their second postseason tournament title in three seasons winning the College Basketball Invitational presented by Buick in a decisive third game, 80-77 over George Mason on Friday night in Fairfax, Va. Kevin Foster was named the CBI MVP - breaking the CBI scoring record - as he finishes his career at Santa Clara with 431 threes, tying him for No. 4 all-time in NCAA history. He also finishes with 2,423 career points, second-all-time in the West Coast Conference and No. 1 in the Bay Area.
GMU's Patrick Holloway missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer and Santa Clara broke a nine-game winning streak by the home team in the Championship series to become the third team in CBI history to win the title on the road.
Santa Clara finishes at 26-12 and 9-7 in the WCC. George Mason finishes at 22-16 and 10-8 CAA. The Broncos have traveled 8,427 miles during the CBI. The 26 wins are just one short of the school record 27 wins from 1968-69 (27-2).
"I am really proud of our guys," said Bronco head coach Kerry Keating. "With Marc and Kevin as fifth-year seniors we are trying to establish being competitive in tournaments like this in the post-season. It's a process and we are working to build on winning the CIT two years ago and now the CBI this year. We have to stay focused moving forward. I am really excited about our three signees coming in and certainly Nate Kratch, who we redshirted this year and will take Marc's place next year. Our five seniors are leaving behind quite a legacy and have set a high standard. I couldn't be happier or prouder of our guys."
"I am so glad I could end my five years with a win," said Foster, who graduated from Santa Clara last week. "We played hard tonight. We didn't play well the other night. We gave up too many rebounds. We have worked very hard since April 2, 2012 to get here. We worked hard and wanted it all year long."
Santa Clara shot 50 percent from the field (29 of 58), including 30 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 20). The Broncos shot 72.7 percent from the free throw line (16 of 22). They collected 30 rebounds, 15 assists, eight steals, two blocks and had 11 turnovers.
Santa Clara was led by tournament MVP Kevin Foster, who scored 24 points and set a new CBI record with 158. Marc Trasolini added 20, scoring 16 in the second half making his first seven field goals, and Evan Roquemore had 19 hitting four free throws in the final 20 seconds.
George Mason shot 41.8 percent from the field (28 of 67), including 24 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 25). The Patriots shot 68.2 percent from the free throw line (15 of 22). They collected 46 rebounds, 11 assists, four steals, one block and had 16 turnovers.
George Mason was led by Sherrod Wright, who collected his second straight double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds, Jonathon Arledge added 16 points and Erik Copes grabbed 11 boards.
The Patriots started the game on a 8-0 run - all inside baskets by four different players. Allen scored quickly at 19:51 and Wright added one at 18:37. Copes tipped it in at 17:37 and Arledge dumped it inside at 17:06.
After the Broncos whistled for a 30, they then started their own 8-0 run. Cowels III scored on a miss at 16:52. Roquemore pumped faked it in for a bucket and the and one at 16:39. Foster crushed a three to tie it up at 16:35.
Allen answered with his own three at 16:01. Cowels IIII scored at 15:43.
GMU started another run, this one 12-1. Allen scored from 10 feet out at 15:33, 13-10 GMU. Trasolini was smacked on the arm by Arledge, his second foul early, and after the media timeout Trasolini sank one. Gujanicic scored a couple of free throws at 14:07 and Copes dumped in a miss three by Gujanicic at 13:39. Holloway scored a floater at 12:25 and Allen followed at 11:49, 19-11 GMU. Allen jumped over on top B. Clark, who was whistled for a foul, and he made both free throws at 11:50.
Harrison's thundering dunk on a pass by J. Clarke ended the run at 11:00 with the Broncos trailing 21-13. B. Clark was fouled attacking the basket and he sank both at 10:11. Wright drove under the basket for two at 9:17.
Wright hit a three at 6:07 to stop the Broncos' 7-0 run. Foster hit his third three at 5:39. Gujanicic fouled Trasolini going to the hoop and he sank the second to tie it up 26-26 at 5:20.
GMU then went on a 9-2 run to take a 35-28 lead. Vaughns hit a jumper at 4:55 and scored a free throw at 4:18. Roquemore scored on a tough floater off the glass at 3:43. Edwards scored his first basket, a three from the top of the key at 3:12. Wright added the and one at 2:37.
Cowels III hit a three on a dandy pass by Foster at 2:20 to stop the run. Bennett scored a put-back and Trasolini danced under the basket for two with 42 seconds left, 37-33 GMU - the score at halftime.
In the first half Santa Clara shot 37.9 percent from the field (11 of 29), including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc (4 of 12). The Broncos shot 58.3 percent from the free throw line (7 of 12). They collected 13 rebounds, five assists, four steals, one block and had six turnovers. Santa Clara was led by Foster's 11 points. Five Broncos had two rebounds each and Roquemore had three steals.
George Mason shot 42.4 percent from the field (14 of 33), including 23.1 percent from beyond the arc (3 of 13). The Patriots shot 75 percent from the free throw line (6 of 8). They collected 27 rebounds, 11 offensive, four assists, two steals, one block and had 10 turnovers. George Mason was led by Sherrod Wright with 10 points and 7 boards and Erik Copes had 8 rebounds. Four different GMU players picked up 2 personal fouls.
Foster scored off the glass at 19:35 to start the second half. After a Wright three, Trasolini scored inside at 18:58. The Patriots scored a couple baskets before Trasolini answered inside at 18:10, 44-39 GMU. Foster scored inside on an assist by Roquemore at 17:27.
Trasolini dunked it and was crushed on the no call to pull SCU within one, 44-43. Arledge added two at the free throw line at 16:16. Trasolini scored from four feet out at 15:37. He passed former Bronco Steve Nash, a two-time NBA MVP, with that bucket to move to No. 5 all-time on the scoring list.
Roquemore stole the ball and passed it to Cowels III who pushed it to a wide-open Trasolini under the basket for two and the Broncos led for the first time, 47-46, at 15:27. Foster added one from 10 feet out at 14:41. Wright stopped the Broncos 6-0 run with a basket at 13:57. Roquemore scored at 13:06, 51-48 Broncos. Wright added a pair of free throws at 12:52.
Roquemore drove the close-to-empty lane for two at 12:10 and the Broncos went up 55-50. After the Patriots 14th turnover, the Broncos Trasolini scored again at 11:34, 57-50 Broncos.
Cowels III stole the ball from Allen at 9:03. Roquemore tipped in his own miss to stop the run at 8:23. Vaughns tied it up 59-59 at 8:06.
Foster's fourth three of the game made it 62-59.
Copes added a free throw at 7:28. Copes picked up his fourth foul on Trasolini at 7:14 and he sank both to make it 64-60. Arledge drove inside to score at 6:56. J. Clarke was stripped of the ball and Wright dunked on him at 6:30. McArthur quieted the crowd with a four-footer 10 seconds later.
Arledge gave Mason a brief lead at 5:28. McArthur's jumper tied it back up at 5:01. Roquemore hit a pair from the charity stripe and then Wright dumped in a Arledge miss at 4:11 to tie it up 70-70.
Arledge scored a free throw at 3:19 and Roquemore answered with two at 2:24, 72-71 Broncos. Arledge's jump hook was good at 1:35.
Foster's three, his fifth of the game to move to a tie at No. 4 all-time in NCAA history, was good to put SCU up 75-73 at 1:09. He is tied with former Tennessee All-American Chris Lofton (431, 2005-08).
Vaughns made one, but missed the second free throw and Cowels III grabbed the rebound and quickly passed it to Roquemore. He was fouled by Vaughns with 19 seconds left. Roquemore sank both to put SCU up 77-74.
After the Patriots took the ball down the court, they whistled for time with 16.7 seconds left. Allen scored under the basket with 11.3 seconds left and the Patriots whistled for their last timeout, with the Broncos leading 77-76.
Roquemore was mauled with 8.3 seconds left. He stepped to the line and sank both to go up 79-76. Keating whistled for time, the Broncos final timeout.
Roquemore fouled Wright with 4.6 seconds left coming across the half-court line. He missed the first one and sank the second, 79-77 Broncos.
Foster was fouled as soon as he grabbed the inbounds pass. He stepped to the line and sank one. Broncos 80-77. Patrick Holloway had an open look for a potential game-tying three at the buzzer, but the shot bounced off the front of the rim.
Game Notes
Evan Roquemore broke the school record for single-season assists. He finished the year with 196 assists, topping John Woolery (1993-94, 190).
Kevin Foster made 431 career threes and finishes his career tied at No. 4 all-time in NCAA history with former Tennessee All-American Chris Lofton (430, 2005-08). Foster passed the Golden State Warriors' guard Stephen Curry (414, Davidson, 2006-09) to take over the No. 5 spot at Wright State. Foster has scored 19+ in 64 of his 133 career games. He has 15+ in 89 career games.
Kevin Foster started his 125th career game after setting the school record vs. LMU on Feb. 28. Foster played in his 133rd game and will finish No. 3 all-time behind teammates Marc Trasolini and Raymond Cowels III.
Marc Trasolini and Raymond Cowels III played in their 137th career game and already own the school record. Cowels III also started his 68th straight game for the Broncos. Trasolini started his 109th career game. Playing in his 128th career game,Niyi Harrison is tied for No. 4 all-time (Ben Dowdell, 2008-11).
Kevin Foster is No. 5 on the WCC single season with 89 steals, including two at GMU on April 3. Foster set the school record for single season steals at Wright State on March 27. He is No. 6 on the WCC career list and tied with Terrell Lowery (231, 1988-92).
Trasolini's bucket from four feet out at 15:37 in the second half pushed him past Steve Nash for No. 5 on the all-time scorers list.
It is the second time in three years and just the third time in 17 years that Santa Clara has played in the post-season. It is the 17th post-season appearance in school history (23-18: 11-13 NCAA; 2-4 NIT, 5-0 CIT, 5-1 CBI).
