On a chilly night in San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara's shooters went cold as well as Cal Poly won 64-53. The Broncos move to 3-6 and Cal Poly is 3-5. Santa Clara returns home to host La Sierra on Sat., Dec. 14 at 7 pm.
Santa Clara shot 38.0 percent from the field (19 of 50), including 20.0 percent from beyond the arc (4 of 20). They were 11 of 17 from the free throw line. The Broncos collected 31 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, seven blocks and 12 turnovers.
The Broncos had three players score in double figures. Brandon Clark and Evan Roquemore had 12 each with Clark adding five assists, five turnovers and two steals. Roquemore had no assists so he remains at No. 2 all-time, tied with Steve Nash '96 (510). Nate Kratch added 11 points with seven rebounds. Julian Clark had three assists and Yannick Atanga added four rebounds.
Cal Poly shot 43.4 percent from the field (23 of 53), including 27.3 percent from beyond the arc (3 of 11). They were 15 of 27 from the free throw line. The Mustangs collected 42 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals, no blocks and 11 turnovers.
Dave Nwaba scored a career-high 21 points with three steals. Chris Eversley grabbed 15 rebounds, including 11 defensive boards. He also scored nine points. Maliik Love added four assists and five points. Jamal Johnson had four steals.
Taking a 29-23 lead to the lockerroom at halftime, Cal Poly opened the second half on a 6-3 run to take a nine-point lead.
Roquemore scored the front end free throw at 14:51 and then Kratch grabbed the second attempt, a miss, and scored under the basket, 35-29 CPU. Kyle Odister knocked down a three at 13:23 and then two Mustangs scored a pair of free throws each to make it a 13-point lead for the Mustangs at 11:17.
Clarke's bank shot and Clark's three started a 12-5 run by the Broncos. Roquemore hit a three at 6:12. Clarke stole the ball and Brown laid it in at 5:09, 47-41 Cal Poly.
Cal Poly scored three free throws over the next minute to take a 50-41 lead at 4:23. After a pair of Clark free throws, Cal Poly went on a 9-0 run to take a 59-43 lead and the Mustangs led by 16 – their largest lead of the game at 2:13.
The Broncos pulled back within nine on a Roquemore score with 42 seconds left, 62-53.
Eversley and Kratch traded baskets twice to open the game. Brown gave the Broncos a 6-4 lead with a bucket inside at 16:14.
The Mustangs scored twice between one inside for Brown. Clark's sweet back door pass helped Atanga to an open dunk and the Broncos led 10-8 at 11:34.
Clark banked in a three at 9:40 to give the Broncos their first three of the game. Kratch sank a pair of free throws at 8:50 to make it 17-11 SCU.
Cal Poly went on an 8-0 run to take a 19-17 lead at 5:46. Clark tied it back up by scoring on his own miss. After Kratch blocked a shot, Clark raced down the floor and passed it to an open Denzel Johnson for a three at 4:48, 22-19 Broncos.
Cal Poly went on an 8-0 run to take a 29-23 lead with 50 seconds left in the first half. Cal Poly led 29-23 at the half.
Notes: The Broncos started Evan Roquemore, Jared Brownridge, Brandon Clark, Nate Kratch and Jerry Brown for the second straight game … John McArthur was once again out of the line-up due to an injury suffered in practice Wednesday … the 1995-96 men's basketball team for Cal Poly was honored at halftime. It was the last time Cal Poly went to the NCAA tournament.