Santa Clara Falls at Saint Mary's
Santa Clara fell 84-59 at Saint Mary's on Saturday night. Santa Clara is 10-9 and 1-2 in the WCC. Saint Mary's is 16-2 and 4-0 in the WCC. Santa Clara hosts Gonzaga Jan. 20 at 6 pm and then Portland at 3 pm on Jan. 22.
Gonzaga Tickets: Less than 500 tickets remain for Santa Clara's Thurs., Jan. 20 game with Gonzaga in the Leavey Center. The game will tipoff off at 6 pm (ESPNU). Fans can buy tickets three ways: Stopping by the Leavey Center from 9-5 pm weekdays, by calling 408-554-4660 or clicking here. Get your tickets today!
"Saint Mary's is the best team in our league right now," said Bronco head coach Kerry Keating. "Obviously they have a lot of carry over from the last couple years. Over the last three years they have successfully had a senior be their best player and that's hard to do. They are really good."
"The score doesn't matter really, at the end of the day it's the things you have to do in the game. If you don't, the opposition takes advantage of it. It's what we do now that counts. We have to do things at a higher level if we expect to win on the road two times in a row. We have learned a lot of lessons this year. We have to play better if we want to continue to improve. I have to give our team a lot of credit. They didn't quit and only gave up two threes in the second half. It's hard."
Santa Clara shot 39.0 percent (23 of 59) from the field, including 29.4 percent from beyond the arc (5 of 17). The Broncos collected 26 rebounds, 12 assists, six steals and three blocks. They shot 47.1 percent from the free throw line (8 of 17) with seven turnovers.
Saint Mary's shot 62.0 percent (31 of 50) from the field, including 43.5 percent from beyond the arc (10 of 23). SMC collected 34 rebounds, 23 assists, five steals and five blocks. They shot 75.0 percent from the free throw line (12 of 16) with 11 turnovers.
Individually, the Broncos were led by Kevin Foster's 15 points. Foster, who entered the game at No. 2 in the country in threes made, hit three. Trasolini scored 10, grabbing five rebounds. Troy Payne had a team-high seven rebounds and five points. Evan Roquemore dished out a career-high eight assists.
Saint Mary's put six players in double figures and were led by Mickey McConnell's 18 points and a game-high 13 assists. Clint Steindl added 11, Rob Jones 15, Matthew Dellavedova 10, Mitchell Young 10 and Stephen Holt 10.
Foster hit a free throw at 10:01 and Dowdell scored a four-foot jumper from the side at 8:50. After the media timeout Foster sank one, 27-11 at 7:59.
Walker swung in to dunk the ball at 7:41 and Dowdell answered at 7:15. Steindl knocked down a three and Trasolini dunked the ball and then tipped one in to make it 37-17 at 5:07.
Harrison and Trasolini scored back-to-back baskets at 1:54 and 1:28. The teams went to the lockerroom with SMC up 46-26.
In the first half Santa Clara shot 38.5 percent (10 of 26) from the field, including 20.0 percent from beyond the arc (2 of 10). The Broncos collected 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. They shot 57.1 percent from the free throw line (4 of 7) with three turnovers.
Saint Mary's shot 63.3 percent (19 of 30) from the field, including 50.0 percent from beyond the arc (8 of 16). SMC collected 17 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals and three blocks. They didn't attempt a free throw and had three turnovers.
Individually, the Broncos were led by Foster's 10 points and three rebounds. Roquemore had six assists. Dellavedova and McConnell both scored 10 each for SMC and Tim Williams grabbed four rebounds. McConnell had eight assists.
Trasolini scored the opening basket of the second half at 19:38. With the Broncos playing tough defense, Young and Trasolini traded blocks. Young scored the Gaels first points of the half on two free throws at 16:48.
Foster drove the lane to score at 16:27. Holt was called for a travel and then Young picked up his second foul on Raymond Cowels IIII. After the media timeout Cowels sank the second one.
Jones scored SMC's first basket at 15:10. It was the Gaels first basket in almost six minutes. The Gaels got on track with an 8-0 run. John McArthur's hook shot stopped the run, but Walker dunked again to put SMC up 61-34.
SCU went on a 6-0 run with a three by Foster and s bucket by Payne, including a free throw. Harrison scored inside and then Jones dunked, 65-42 SMC at 10:42.
Trasolini scored at 7:28 and then Steindl hit a three to put SMC up 70-47 at 7:28. Roquemore scored the Broncos 50th point with a three at 5:30. Payne scored a tip-in. Roquemore crushed a three at 3:43.
Young scored Saint Mary's 80th point at 3:28. Dowdell hit a bucket at 3:04.
Harrison dunked home a pass from Cowels at 1:57.