Men's Basketball Drops 60-54 Game At Utah State

Men's Basketball Drops 60-54 Game At Utah State

Utah State used a 15-2 run in the middle of the second half to ride to a 60-54 victory over Santa Clara Wednesday night in Logan, Utah.  Yannick Atanga scored SCU's last field goal at 5:52 in the second half.  Santa Clara is 2-1 and Utah State is 3-0.  Santa Clara plays at No. 19 Michigan State on Mon., Nov. 24.  

Santa Clara shot 36.4 percent from the field (20 of 55), including 25 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 24). The Broncos collected 43 rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, 12 turnovers and shot 57.1 percent from the free throw line (8 of 14).

Brandon Clark's streak of 25 straight games in double figures was snapped as he scored nine points (3 of 15 from the field, 1 of 8 from three).  He added six assists. Jared Brownridge scored 11 points, but was just 3 of 14 from the field, including 2 of 7 from beyond the arc and 3 of 7 from the free throw line.  Matt Hubbard scored 10 points off the bench and added eight rebounds.  Atanga had seven rebounds. 

Utah State shot 34.8 percent from the field (16 of 46), including 41.2 percent from beyond the arc (7 of 17). They collected 30 rebounds, 12 assists, five steals, seven turnovers and shot 72.4 percent from the free throw line (21 of 29). 

Jalen Moore scored 15 points, including 8 of 12 from the free throw line.  Chris Smith had 14 points and a team-leading eight rebounds.  Jojo McGlaston added 10.

The Broncos took a 31-26 lead in to the second half.  USU opened the second half on a 7-2 run before the Broncos answered with a 7-0 run to take a 40-32 lead at 14:23.  During the run Johnson scored back-to-back baskets inside.

Hubbard crushed a three at 11:10, but Sean Harris answered at 10:52.  It was the Aggies first basket since 17:13.  Nate Kratch scored twice inside and USU called for time, down 47-36, at 9:32.

The Aggies went on a 15-2 run over the next 5:40 coming out of the timeout, taking a 51-49 lead on a three by Moore at 3:57.  Atanga scored the Broncos' final basket at 5:52.

Brownridge hit the front end of his pair of free throws at 3:10.  Clark tied it up at 52-52 sinking a pair of free throws.  The Aggies then hit four straight from the line.

Brownridge hit two of three free throws with 50 seconds left to cut the lead to two, but the Aggies closed out the game with five free throws in the final 33 seconds to win 60-54. 

The Broncos started the game on a 7-0 run.  A bucket by Atanga, a three at the top of the key by Clark and another inside by Brownridge at 18:16 and the Aggies called for time.

With Denzel Johnson, Brownridge and Hubbard hitting three straight beyond the arc, the Broncos took a 16-1 lead.  The Aggies scored their first basket at 15:09 and then Hubbard added a pair of free throws at 14:55.

After the Broncos turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions, Richard scored a putback at 10:05 and Clark dumped it in at 9:13. Perkins scored a three at 8:29, but Hubbard answered from 15 feet at 7:28 to give SCU a 24-12 lead.

USU went on a 7-2 run, but Pugh answered inside at 4:49 and Brownridge scored from deep to make the lead 10 again at 4:02, 29-19. 

The Aggies scored seven unanswered points over the next 1:24 and SCU called for time with the Broncos leading 29-26 at 1:02.  Clark's floater stopped the run with 27.1 left.  

Brownridge led the Broncos with eight points at the half and Clark added seven.  Atanga collected five rebounds and Jarvis Pugh had four.