PULLMAN, Wash. - Josip Vrankic and Jalen Williams combined for 38 points, but it wasn't enough to keep up with Washington State as Santa Clara men's basketball fell to the Cougars, 63-50, in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Broncos conclude the season with a 21-12 record, their most wins since 2012-13.
Vrankic and Williams both, appropriately, finished the night with double-doubles. For Vrankic, the fifth-year senior put a bow on his collegiate career by tallying double-double No. 22. The Toronto, Canada, product, was 7-of-13 for 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in his 131st career start, which broke a tie with Jared Brownridge for the most in program history. Vrankic concludes his career with 1,817 points and 801 rebounds, which rank third and eighth in program history, respectively.
Williams also finished with 19 points and pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds, which are the most ever by a Bronco in postseason play. The junior product of Gilbert, Ariz., finishes the year with a pair of double-doubles and has three for his career. Williams finished the season with 594 points, the eighth-most in a single-season in program history.
unfortunately for the Broncos, points were hard to come by outside of Vrankic and Williams, finishing just 18-of-60 (30 percent) from the floor and 3-of-23 from 3-point range. It was an uncharacteristic shooting night for Santa Clara, who checked into the game ranked seventh in both field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.
Points were difficult to come by for both teams in the opening half with the teams combining for an 18-of-60 start from the floor (30 percent). Neither team led by more than five points with the Cougars holding that largest lead at 22-17 after Tyrell Roberts knocked down back-to-back triples. Santa Clara answered with a 3-ball of their own and from the most unlikely of places as freshman forward Jacob Holt knocked down an open look from the top of the key for his first collegiate 3-point bucket. Only three combined field goals would be scored over the final 3:14 as the teams entered the locker room with Washington State holding a 27-23 advantage. Vrankic scored a team-best nine points in the period while Jalen Williams pulled down seven rebounds.
Out of the break, Washington State (20-14) put their foot on the gas and quickly built a 13-point lead that would prove to be unsurmountable. The Cougars led by as much as 16 down the stretch as they held off any attempts at a comeback. Williams and Vrankic combined for 25 of Santa Clara's 27 points in the second half.
Despite the 13-point loss, the Broncos played a solid game of defense, limiting Washington State to just 34.4 percent from the floor (22-of-64). A key stat of the game was the shooting tape beyond the arc in which the Cougars were able to knock down 10 triples to the Broncos' three. Roberts did a bulk of the damage, finishing 7-of-16 from downtown for a game-high 23 points.
NOTES
- Williams' 15 rebounds broke the school postseason record of 13 held by Bud Ogden (1969 NCAA Tournament vs. Weber State) and Dennis Awtrey (1970 NCAA Tournament vs. Cal State Long Beach).
- Vrankic scored in double figures for the 21st time this season.
- Williams scored in double figures for the 31st time this season.
POSTGAME VIDEO
.@HerbSendek recaps tonight's game#StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/rkfmhuOUNu
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) March 16, 2022
Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
• Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Snapchat
• Men's Basketball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Snapchat
