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Tied 58-58 at 4:22 in the second half, San Francisco's 6-0 run was just enough to help the Dons to a 69-63 victory over Santa Clara in the Leavey Center Saturday night. Santa Clara is 11-16 and 4-10 in the WCC. USF is 16-10 and 9-5 in the WCC.
Santa Clara shot 40.0 percent from the field (24 of 60), including 32.0 from beyond the arc (8 of 25). They were 7 of 11 from the free throw line (63.6 percent). The Broncos collected 36 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, seven blocks and had five turnovers.
USF shot 37.5 percent from the field (21 of 56), including 30.0 from beyond the arc (6 of 20). They were 21 of 31 from the free throw line (67.7 percent). The Dons collected 43 rebounds, 10 assists, no steals, four blocks and had five turnovers.
USF was led by Kruize Pinkins' 26 points, including 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Cole Dickerson had 13 with 14 boards. Mark Tollefsen had 13 points with eight boards.
USF opened the second half with a 6-0 run to take a 41-33 lead. The Broncos 8-0 run tied it up 41-41 at 13:16 with a three by Roquemore. The Dons went 0-7 from the field during the SCU run. Clark's field goal at 14:20, to start the run, was Santa Clara's first field goal in more than 8 ½ minutes (3:46, first half).
USF scored back-to-back baskets before Clark drained a three at the top of the key, 49-48 Dons, at 9:37. A pair of free throws gave Brownridge double figures for the 21st time this season and made the USF lead just one at 7:55 (52-51).
Richard hit back-to-back baskets inside to tie it up 58-58 at 4:22. USF's 6-0 run over the next 1:48 was halted by Brownridge's floater inside at 2:06, 64-60 USF.
Pinkins dunked it and made the free throw when fouled with 21.2 seconds left, 67-61 USF.
The Broncos led by as many as eight in the first half (32-24, 3:46), but the Dons erased it with an 11-0 run to take a 35-32 lead with 39 seconds remaining.
Brownridge and Richard started the scoring inside and outside, respectively, but USF matched them both times and took an 8-5 lead at 16:47 on Dickerson's second straight three.
After a pair of free throws by Dickerson, the Broncos went on a 7-0 run. Jerry Brown sank a pair of free throws, Brownridge crushed a three and Clark scored inside as the Broncos led 14-10 at 14:14.
USF's 6-0 run over the next 3:08 put the Dons up by two but Richard's three stopped the run at 10:11, 17-16 Broncos. SCU's 7-0 run made it 24-18 before Tollefsen scored outside at 6:32.
Brownridge and Tollefsen matched each other's threes when Clark crushed a three from NBA range and then scored inside to make the Broncos lead eight, 32-24, at 3:46.
USF's 11-0 run over the next 2:08 gave the Dons a 35-32 lead with 39 seconds left in the first half. Roquemore's free throw with four seconds left in the first half made it 35-33 at halftime.
Game Notes: Santa Clara started Jalen Richard, Jared Brownridge, Brandon Clark, John McArthur and Yannick Atanga … Clark scored double figures for the 23rd time this season and 41st time in his career.