Basketball Defeats Houston Baptist, Host Washington State Sunday Night
Santa Clara is 6-5 and Houston Baptist is 1-9.
"We are working with Marc to get his confidence back. He had a tough week a couple weeks ago and he has responded well. For us to be successful we need Marc to do well," Keating. "Our walk-ons have done a great job all year and we were glad we got them in tonight. It's hard sometimes to see the reward and our team really appreciates them. It was great to see a guy like Nate score his first basket as a senior.
"Ray played well because he has been consistently worked hard. He was in the gym last night until midnight working on his game and knows he can't settle. You never know when your number is going to be called and that showed tonight," added Keating. "We have our work cut out for us against a very good Washington State team on Sunday. We have a quick turnaround and have to get ready."
Santa Clara shot 46.3 percent from the field (31 of 67), including 45.5 percent from beyond the arc (10 of 22). Santa Clara collected 48 rebounds, 21 assists, eight steals and three block. Santa Clara had 16 turnovers and was 18 of 22 from the free throw line. Houston Baptist shot 38.1 percent (24 of 63) from the field, including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 18). The Huskies collected 35 rebounds, 12 assists, 11 steals and four blocks. HBU had 15 turnovers and was 13 of 21 from the free throw line.
Individually Santa Clara's Evan Roquemore and Raymond Cowels III both scored 17. It was one of Roquemore's career high of 18 vs. Northern Colorado and a season-high for Cowels who made his first start of the season. Roquemore added a career-high seven assists. Marc Trasolini added 16 points with seven rebounds off the bench. Kevin Foster scored 12 with six assists. Ben Dowdell and Troy Payne grabbed seven rebounds each.
Andrew Gonzalez added 22 and Shawn Echols hit 22 for Houston Baptist.
After a Gonzalez three, Santa Clara scored back-to-back baskets by Chris Cunningham and Raymond Cowels III, a three. Gonzalez hit back-to-back basket. Cowels scored on his second three to tie it up and Echols answered back, 11-8 HBU at 16:14.
Michael Santos hit a bucket and then Trasolini tipped one in. Ben Dowdell hit a two-foot jumper. McArthur hit one under the basket to put SCU up 18-13 at 10:48.
After HBU missed two free throws, Cowels scored under the basket. Trasolini hit a put-back to make the lead 22-13 SCU. The Broncos scored 12 straight before Gonzalez scored on a jumper. Cowels hit two free throws to push the lead to 24-15 Broncos.
Payne hit back-to-back Bronco baskets between two Huskie threes to put the Broncos up 28-23 at 6:39. Roquemore drilled a three. Foster hit back-to-back threes make it 38-27 at 3:34. HBU score a basket and then two free throws, 38-31 SCU at 2:46.
A nifty pass by Payne to Roquemore made it 40-31 at 1:26. Timeout HBU. Foster hit a three with seven ticks left, but fouled Gonzalez who hit both free throws, 43-35 at the half.
In the first half, Santa Clara shot 47.1 percent from the field (16 of 34), including 46.2 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 13). Santa Clara collected 24 rebounds, 11 assists, two steal and one block. Santa Clara had six turnovers and was 5 of 7 from the free throw line. In the first half, Houston Baptist shot 38.2 percent from the field (13 of 34), including 36.4 percent from beyond the arc (4 of 11). The Huskies collected 20 rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. HBU four turnovers and was 5 of 10 from the free throw line.
Individually Cowels had 10, Foster nine and Roquemore eight. Gonzalez scored 16 and Obetoh scored 12 for Houston Baptist.
In the second half, Roquemore knocked down a three at 19:16. Timeout HBU. Obertoh scored a three-point play before Dowdell dumped it in the basket.
Dowdell took a charge, Trasolini drained a three and Cowels and Roquemore hit back-to-back baskets to put SCU up 59-41 at 16:06, its largest lead of the game.
HBU scored five straight before Foster and Cowels drained back-to-back threes and then Roquemore scored under the basket to put SCU up 67-46 at 12:25.
Cunningham scored and then Trasolini put down three free throws. Trasolini grinded for three baskets and Roquemore hit two free throws, 82-56 Broncos at 5:32.
All four Bronco walk-ons check in at 3:24, including Nate Mensah, Phillip Bach, Kyle Perricone and Beau Gamble. Perricone scored at 1:01 to put SCU up 88-64. Mensah, a senior, scored his first career points with two free throws at 39.5 to put SCU up 90-65.
Santa Clara Notes: Sophomore guard Robert Smith has left the Santa Clara University men's basketball team effective immediately. Smith averaged 5.5 ppg and 3.7 apg as a starter in all 10 games this season.
"Robert is currently in good academic standing," said Santa Clara head coach Kerry Keating. "I'm disappointed Robert felt he could not succeed here. Having known Robert and his family for a long time, I wish him the best in the future."