SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Josip Vrankic and Jalen Williams combined for 37 points as Santa Clara took down San Diego, 79-66, inside Jenny Craig Pavilion on Saturday evening. The Broncos completed the season sweep over the Toreros after winning the first game in overtime fashion in Santa Clara.
Williams finished with a team-high 19 points, just one shy of his 11th 20-point game of the season. Vrankic was right behind him with 18 points.
The Broncos took control early, using a 53.6 shooting clip to take a 48-29 lead into the locker room at halftime. PJ Pipes was hot early, knocking down three 3-pointers and finishing with 11 points before the break. Leading by five at the 10-minute mark at 21-16, Santa Clara went off for a 23-5 run to mount a 23-point lead with 2:42 remaining in the half.
San Diego scored the first six points out the gate in the second half to begin chipping into the deficit, and cut it to as little as 10 points with 10:22 remaining, however Vrankic rattled off seven of the game's next nine points to push the lead right back up to 15 at 70-55 at the under-8 timeout. The Broncos were able to maintain control for the rest of the way, never surrendering their double-digit lead down the stretch.
With the win, the Broncos improve to 6-3 in WCC play and are 16-8 overall.
San Diego was led offensively by Marcellus Earlington's game-high 23 points. The Toreros shot 47.5 percent for the game.
Santa Clara finished the night with a 49.3 percent scoring clip and won the battle of the boards 43-28.
POSTGAME VIDEO
.@HerbSendek recaps tonight's victory#StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/rxpuPP3aLj
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) February 6, 2022
NEXT UP
- The Broncos return to the Leavey Center for two games next week beginning with Saint Mary's on Tuesday. The game will tip-off at 8:00 p.m. PT on ESPNU.
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