Bronco Basketball Downs Bethune-Cookman
Santa Clara outscored Bethune-Cookman 20-8 during a six minute run in the middle of the second half and Kevin Foster hit a career-high six three-pointers to give the Broncos a 75-61 win over Bethune-Cookman on Sunday as part of the iBAN Sports Las Vegas Invitational. The first two rounds are being hosted on campus sites before moving onto to Las Vegas' Orleans Arena this weekend.
Santa Clara is 3-1 and Bethune-Cookman is 2-1. Santa Clara's opponent on Tues., Nov. 23, Northern Colorado, 2-1, fell 93-70 at Arizona on Sunday afternoon.
"We knew CJ Reed, the coaches son, was going to be a handful," said head coach Kerry Keating. "We had a more concentrated effort on the defensive end during that run in the second half during our run and it carried over it to the offensive end."
Santa Clara shot 56.8 percent from the field, including 50.0 percent from the three-point line. Santa Clara grabbed 31 rebounds, 23 assists, four steals and two blocks. They made 16 of 24 free throws. Bethune-Cookman shot 46.0 percent, including 40.0 percent from the three-point line. The Wildcats grabbed 22 rebounds, 12 assists, 11 steals and two blocks. They made 11 of 15 free throws. Santa Clara had 13 turnovers with just four miscues in the second half. B-C had 11 on the night.
Santa Clara put four players in double-figures. Foster scored 21 points. It was the 18th game in Foster's career he has scored 19 plus and the six three-pointers were a career high as well. Dowdell and Raymond Cowels III had five rebounds each. Robert Smith and Foster both had six assists, one of their career highs.
Evan Roquemore and Marc Trasolini scored 13 points and Ben Dowdell collected 10.
The Wildcats were led by C.J. Reed's 29 points, including hitting 8 of 8 from the free throw line. Dion Holloman scored 11 points and Alexander Starling grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
Santa Clara opened the game with a 7-2 lead on a three-pointer by Trasolini at 16:51. The Wildcats scored two straight baskets before Cunningham dumped in a basket and was fouled. He hit the free throw to put SCU up 10-6 at 13:39. C.J. Reed scored a two foot basket to bring the Wildcats within two at 13:12 and Dion Holloman tied it up 10-10 at 11:02 with a layup.
Foster's three at 10:31 and Niyi Harrison's nifty move under the basket gave the Broncos a 15-10 lead at 9:52. B-C responded with a three of its own at 9:32. Foster knocked down another three at 8:04.
B-C sank two free throws and a bucket; and then Foster sank a free throw, 19-17 at 5:14.
The teams traded the lead three different times when Reed's three gave B-C a 27-23 lead at 1:29. Trasolini two foot basket at 1:03. Reed's steal with 33 seconds left gave B-C a 29-25 lead before Foster knocked down a bucket to make it 29-27 with three seconds left in the half.
Foster hit a three and Roquemore scored on a jumper to give the Broncos a 45-42 lead at 9:42. Dowdell backed up the defender for a bucket and then Smith's steal resulted in Foster's fifth-three of the day, tying a career high. Cowels' scored under the basket off a nifty pass from Payne, was fouled and hit the free throw. The Broncos were on a 8-0 lead before the Wildcats scored twice to make it 53-48 SCU. Dowdell was fouled at 5:58 shooting and hit both.
With time winding down Roquemore drained a three, 58-50 Broncos at 4:53. The cardiac kid scored again with time winding down and then Trasolini hit a basket under the basket to make it 62-52 Broncos at 3:32. Roquemore scored his 10th point and his second three to give the Broncos a 65-52 lead. The Broncos had outscored B-C 20-8 from 9:16 to 2:43.
Trasolini flew to the basket and scored on a sweet pass from Smith, 68-55 Broncos. Foster hit a career-high three-pointer to push the Broncos to 73-59. Roquemore scored two free throws to make it 75-59 Broncos. Final score was 75-61.