AUDIO: Sendek Postgame Interview on KDOW | AUDIO: Eaddy Postgame Interview on KDOW
STOCKTON, Calif. – Tahj Eaddy posted 18 points, including 13 in the second half, and Josip Vrankic had a double-double (14 points/10 rebounds) to lead Santa Clara men's basketball to a 69-57 come-from-behind road win against Pacific on Saturday.
Tret Wertz scored 15 and Keshawn Justice added 11 for the Broncos (11-9, 3-3 West Coast Conference) who erased a 12-point second-half and ended the game on a 19-2 run.
Roberto Gallinat had a game-high 25 points for the Tigers (11-10, 1-5) who were held to 32 percent shooting from the floor in the second half.
A dunk by Gallinat gave the Tigers a 47-35 lead, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Eaddy trimmed the advantage to 51-48 with 8:47 remaining.
Santa Clara forged ahead 57-55 on a layup by Justice and Pacific had its only basket in the final 7 1/2 minutes of the game on a jumper by Gallinat with 3:35 on the clock.
Henrik Jadersten came off the bench to post seven points, all in the final 3 minutes. He nailed a corner 3-pointer after Gallinat's bucket to increase the lead to 63-57.
The Tigers missed their final three attempts from the floor.
Vrankic had nine points and seven rebounds in the second half. He and Eaddy played all 20 minutes.
Santa Clara shot 54 percent from the floor in the game, including 61 percent in the final 20 minutes.
"Everyone just contributed in very important ways," Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek said. "Just a great team win."
The Broncos snapped a two-game road skid.
Jahlil Tripp had 14 points for Pacific which went only 4-for-19 from behind the 3-point line.
The Tigers led for all but 2 minutes of the opening half and scored the final six points to lead 36-27 heading into the locker room. The Broncos went scoreless for the final 4 minutes.
Pacific went 10 of 12 inside the 3-point line in the first half when it shot 54 percent from the field.
Gallinat had 17 of the Tigers' 21 second-half points. He was 8-for-12 from the floor in the final 20 minutes and the rest of the team was only 2 of 19.
NOTES
• The Broncos have a 97-45 edge in a series that dates to 1905. This is the sixth season the Tigers have been a member of the West Coast Conference, with the Broncos leading 8-4 in that span. But the teams have faced each other every season since 1994-95. The 142 games played are the fifth-most among Santa Clara opponents. Santa Clara has won five of the last six meetings in Stockton.
• The Broncos tied a season-low with six turnovers, matching the total against Idaho (Dec. 21).f
• Josip Vrankic had his third double-double in the last four games and now has five in his career.
• The teams combined to miss only one free throw in the game. The Broncos were 7 of 8 and the Tigers went 7-for-7, but attempted none in the second half.
AUDIO | Coach Herb Sendek and Tahj Eaddy (@Tahj2Eazy_) discussed the big road win over @PacificMensBB on KDOW-AM 1220. #SCUBroncos rallied from 12 down in the 2nd half.
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) January 20, 2019
Sendek ��️https://t.co/NG5WOmYgjS
Eaddy ��️https://t.co/llyRaO64zY#StampedeAhead #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/CwsD88I8Ud
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After three straight games on the road, the Broncos play their next three at home, beginning with a matchup against Gonzaga on Thursday. Tipoff is at 8 p.m.
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