Dec. 28, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -Brody Angley sent the game into overtime with a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining in regulation and Santa Clara scored seven straight in the extra period to beat Denver 74-65 in the first round of the Cable Car Classic on Friday night.
Ben Dowdell and Jonathan Gunderson each hit key baskets to spark the Broncos' rally. John Bryant scored 21 points and grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds to lead Santa Clara (8-5), which won its second straight home game. Angley had 15 points and matched his season-best with eight assists.
The Broncos meet the winner of a later game between Morgan State and Niagara in Saturday's championship game.
David Kummer scored a career-high 20 points to lead Denver (4-7), which lost its sixth straight on the road. Adam Tanner added 18 points.
Santa Clara played the Pioneers for the first time since losing in Denver 56 years ago.
Denver became the first member of the Sun Belt Conference to compete in the Classic since Western Kentucky played in the first one in 1967.
Pioneers' freshman guard Xander McNally hails from San Francisco, and has appeared in all 11 games.
Denver outscored the Broncos, 8-2, in the first two minutes of the second half to take its first lead at 33-30. Kummer's 3-pointer put the Pioneers ahead.
Seven lead changes and three ties later, Angley sent the game into an extra period.
The Pioneers committed three turnovers in the final minute of regulation.
Bryant outrebounded the Pioneers by himself in the first half, grabbing 11 to Denver's nine. The Broncos led through the first 20 minutes, taking a 28-25 lead into the intermission.
