Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- One team made shots and the other didn't. It's that simple.
USF shot just 32 percent from the floor in suffering a 85-54 loss to Santa Clara Thursday night in Memorial Gymnasium. The loss, the Dons fifth in a row, leaves USF's record at 7-11 overall and 0-5 in the West Coast Conference. Santa Clara improves to 13-6 overall and 2-3 in league play.
Kevin Foster led all scorers with 27 points while Raymod Cowels III added 17 for the visiting Broncos, which shot at a 50.9 percent clip for the game and nailed 14-of-30 three-point attempts.
The Dons were led in scoring by freshman Matt Christiansen, who scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor.
Cody Doolin and
Mark Tollefsen each added eight while
Cole Dickerson was held to just seven points.
Santa Clara led virtually wire-to-wire, trailing only twice in the first two minutes of the game.
The Broncos lead was just two points at 16-14 with 10:51 left in the first half when Santa Clara went on a 10-0 run to open a 26-14 with 6:36 left.
After leading 35-24 at intermission, Santa Clara blitzed USF with a 17-2 run to open a 52-26 lead at the 14:29 mark of the second half.
The Broncos led by 30 points at 76-46 with 3:25 left before winning by the final count of 85-54.
"We didn't play well at all," said USF head coach
Rex Walters. "Not taking anything away from Santa Clara, but it was the seniors picking on the freshmen, so to speak. I have to do a better job of coaching them to understand what we do defensively and missing shots should have nothing to do with effort, concentration and focus.
"They are a solid team and they can really shoot it. If you aren't great in your rotations and not commited to make their shooters bounce it and their drivers shoot it, they can really make you look bad. They can beat any team in this league on a given night.
USF will return to action Saturday afternoon when the Dons play host to Loyola Marymount in Memorial Gymnasium beginning at 1:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet California.
