Provo, Utah – With the West Coast Conference's leading scorer collecting 27 points, Tyler Haws led BYU to an 89-76 victory over visiting Santa Clara on Thursday night in the Marriott Center.
The Broncos are 10-15 and 3-9 in the WCC. BYU is 16-9 and 8-4 in the WCC. Santa Clara plays at San Diego on Sat., Feb. 8 with an 8 pm tip-off.
Santa Clara shot 40.3 percent from the (27 of 67), including 34.6 percent beyond the arc (9 of 26). They shot 68.4 percent from the free throw line (13 of 19). They collected 32 rebounds, 12 assists, six blocks, seven steals and had just seven turnovers.
Jared Brownridge scored 16 points and was in double figures for the 19th time this season. He was 0-5 from the three point line and 6-6 from the free throw line with four assists. Brandon Clark scored 16, making it 21 games in double figures this season.
Jalen Richard scored 10 and Jerry Brown led the Broncos with six boards. Evan Roquemore scored three on 1-7 shooting and didn't collect an assist for just the third game in his Bronco career (at Cal Poly and vs. Gonzaga this season). Off the bench, Julian Clarke was three of four from beyond the arc for nine points.
BYU shot 45.0 percent from the field (27 of 60), including 40.0 percent beyond the arc (4 of 10). They shot 73.8 percent from the free throw line (31 of 42). BYU was 19 of 21 from the free throw line in the first half. They collected 50 rebounds, 18 assists, three blocks, six steals and had nine turnovers.
Four Cougars scored in double figures. Haws 27 points came on 9 of 12 shooting from the field and 8 of 9 from the free throw line. Kyle Collinsworth scored 18, Eric Mika added 15 with 10 boards and Skylar Halford finished with 12 points and four assists.
The Broncos were 3 of 13 in the first half beyond the arc, but opened the second half by hitting two of three. Clark and Richard nailed threes and the Broncos trailed by 11 in the second half at 17:07, 59-48.
BYU took a 20-point lead on a three by Carlino at 14:18. Kratch stopped the run by going inside for a basket.
Brownridge and Collinsworth matched each other for two tough baskets inside and BYU led by 22.
The Broncos 13-2 run over 3:59 made the score a lot closer. Julian Clarke made his second three at 4:17 and the Broncos trailed 87-66. Clarke made another and Denzel Johnson added one at 1:03 as the Broncos trailed now by 13, 89-76.
The first half featured two ties and three lead changes. McArthur, at 19:35, and Collinsworth, at 18:12, both started the game with three point plays. Kratch crushed a three from the corner to put SCU up 6-5 at 17:31.
A pair of free throws by Haws gave BYU the lead again at 17:15. After Collinsworth dunked it, Brownridge answered with a 10-foot jumper to pull SCU back within one, 11-10.
BYU's 14-4 run pushed its lead to 25-14 at 11:49 and the Broncos called for time. Clark's floater shorted the run at 11:18.
Clarke crushed a three at 10:51 and Clark scored a 15-foot jumper at 9:39 to pull within eight, 29-21 Broncos. After a couple BYU baskets, Brownridge scored from 15-feet out.
Clark stole the ball and scored and Richard followed with a pair of free throws at 5:58. Andrew Papenfus stole the ball and Brownridge drove the lane for a dandy basket at 5:36 to pull SCU within seven, 36-29.
BYU's 13-2 run made it 51-33 at 2:01. SCU stopped the run with a 7-0 run on a three by Richard, a monster dunk by Brown and a pair of free throws by Brownridge.
BYU led 53-40 at halftime. Brownridge had 14 first-half point and Haws scored 17 for the Cougars. Papenfus had four first-half fouls.
Game Notes: Santa Clara started Jalen Richard, Brandon Clark, Jared Brownridge, John McArthur and Jared Brownridge … Clark and Brownridge are the only Broncos to have started every game this year.