WATCH | Highlights from the Victory
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Jared Brownridge posted all 20 of his points in the second half and Nate Kratch scored 20 to lead Santa Clara men's basketball to a 69-57 come-from-behind victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff Tuesday at Leavey Center.
The Broncos (4-7) won for the fourth-straight time, the last three at home, by shooting a season-best 56 percent from the field, including a blistering 69 percent in the second half, against the road-tested Golden Lions (2-9).
Santa Clara went 8 of 9 on 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes, including a 5-for-5 effort by Brownridge, who was 0-for-3 from the field in the first half.
Kratch scored in double figures in his fourth-straight game, however his double-double streak was snapped at three after collecting five rebounds.
But the junior made his presence felt against the Golden Lions' active 2-3 zone, which caused the problems for the Broncos, especially in the first half.
"Nate made some shots when he needed to," Santa Clara head coach Kerry Keating said. "He did a tremendous job, and playing hurt with a banged up thumb."
Trailing 43-36 with 15 minutes left in the game, Kratch scored four straight to cut the lead to 3 and then the Broncos took over from long range.
Freshman guard KJ Feagin, who scored 17 points, nailed a 3-pointer from right wing to make it 45-43 and start an 11-0 run. After a stop, Brownridge hit a 3-pointer in transition from the left wing to give the Broncos their first lead since it was 6-5 six minutes into the game.
Hubbard hit a basket on the next trip down the floor and after a turnover, Matt Hauser, another freshman guard, connected on a 3-pointer from the right corner for a 51-45 lead.
Another Brownridge 3-pointer from the left wing made it 55-48 with 6:25 left, but on the ensuing possession JoVaughn Love, who led the Golden Lions with 20 points, completed a three-point play.
From there Santa Clara went on to score eight of the next 10 points, including 3-pointers by Brownridge and Feagin, to push the lead to 64-53 with 3:45 left in the game and the Golden Lions never got closer.
"I'm really happy for our guys," Keating said. "It was tough deal offensively. They played an extended out zone. It was almost a 4-1 the way they were coming out and it gave us trouble."
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which has played all 11 of its games away from home, built a double-digit lead in the first half on some hot shooting. The Golden Lions went 9-for-19 from behind the 3-point line in the opening half.
Charles Jackson was one of four Arkansas-Pine Bluff players to hit at least two 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes. He scored 14 points and went 4-for-6 from beyond the 3-point line in the game.
Jaquan Lynch's 3-pointer made it 25-13 with 5:37 left in the first half, but a 9-0 run over the next 3 minutes by the Broncos cut it to three. Feagin capped it with a 3-pointer off a Brownridge feed.
Feagin had nine of the team's final 11 points of the opening half, which Santa Clara trailed 31-26. He also had his fourth-straight game with at least five assists.
"It was nice to see KJ with six assists," Keating said. "He's starting to get a better feel for how to operate the game."
The Broncos, who are in the midst of five games in 12 days, had their best 3-point shooting night of the season, connecting on 64 percent (9 of 14).
They play their final nonconference game of the season Friday at Nevada.
Notes: The Broncos and Golden Lions met for the first time … forwards Matt Hubbard and Nate Kratch, along with guards Jared Brownridge, KJ Feagin and Kai Healy, started for the third-straight game … Kratch scored in double figures for the fourth-straight game. He has hit 37 of his last 54 field goals (68.5 percent) … Brownridge, Feagin and Healy, the three starting guards, combined for 10 assists and two turnovers … Feagin played a season-high 37 minutes … Brownridge (1,274) moved from 24th to 22nd on the school's career scoring list, passing Frank Sobero (1,256/1957-60) and Mitch Burley (1,258/1985-89) … Arkansas-Pine Bluff has played a tough schedule, which has included road games vs. Michigan State and Iowa State, both currently ranked in the top five nationally.