Broncos Hit Buzzer-Beater Over Waves

Brownridge sinks late game-winner

Brent HanowerTHE SANTA CLARAJanuary 21, 2016Photo: SCU Broncos

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]anta Clara won a 62-60 buzzer beater over the Pepperdine Waves at the Leavey Center last Thursday.

The Waves entered the game 10-6, and 3-2 in WCC play, propelled by a three-game winning streak and a dominant 7-0 home record.

Four Broncos reached double digit scoring, led by a game high 15 points from Nate Kratch, to go along with his nine rebounds. Lamond Murray Jr. put up 14 points for the Waves.

“It was a good team win,” said sophomore Kai Healy. “If you look at the box score it was a team effort and everyone getting on the boards.”

The Bronco’s shooting was cold to start (0-5), but picked up quickly. 

The Broncos dominated shooting at half, with a field goal percentage of 51.6 percent as opposed to the Waves’ meager 34.5 percent.

By the end of the first half of regulation, the Broncos held a lead of 38-30. 

Closing out, Brownridge scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half to go along with seven second half points from Kratch. 

The Broncos struggled down the stretch due to a 2-11 field goal drought lasting the final 3:18 minutes.

The Broncos entered the final possession of the game down 59-60. In the first attempt the Waves fouled.

“We tried to run the play once but they fouled us because they had a foul to give,” Brownridge said. “So we were going to run the same play again, which we did, and I got the ball in the corner and we both kind of stumbled, me and my defender. I knew my coach had confidence in me and my teammates had confidence in me and I just stepped up and I was able to knock down the shot.”

Following the Brownridge three, the well-packed Ruff Rider section was ecstatic for the Broncos’ 62-60 win.

The Broncos failed to continue their momentum, however, dropping their contest to Loyola Marymount Lions (8-9, 1-5) 76-66, at the Leavey Center on Saturday. 

Brownridge added 20 points to go along with four assists and three rebounds. Healy, whose offense has improved significantly this year, added 15 points for the Broncos.

“Just looking to shoot every time I catch the ball and staying in attack mode,” Healey said. “I know that when I’m looking to be aggressive it definitely helps other guys as well, so the more aggressive I am, the more aggressive other guys are and the more open they get. It’s definitely going to be big for us.”

The Lions were led by 22 points and nine assists from Brandon Brown. In Saturday’s contest, the Broncos got worked in the paint as LMU grabbed 38 rebounds compared to the Broncos’ 23.

This led LMU to an absurd 21 second chance points in comparison to the Broncos’ paltry three.

The game remained close at half, with the Broncos trailing 33-26. Healy led all scorers at that time with 11 points.

Brownridge struggled from the floor early going 1-6 from the field resulting in only three points.

He heated up in the second half, however, scoring 17 points.  In the end, the amount of second chance points surrendered was too overwhelming for the Broncos.

The Broncos have one game this week, hosting Bay Area rival the University of San Francisco Dons tonight at 8 p.m.

The Dons enter the game on a three game losing streak, dropping a game at BYU coupled with home losses to LMU and Pepperdine.

Contact Brent Hanower at bhanower@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

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