Web update: San Diego edges Broncos 66-62

By Chris Furnari

Two first year head coaches, Bill Grier and Kerry Keating, squared off in a West Coast Conference battle at the Leavey Center Saturday night. Grier and his scrappy Torero squad got the better of this match-up, defeating Santa Clara 66-62.

San Diego forward Rob Jones made his return to the Bay Area a memorable one, leading all scorers with 24 points on 10-12 shooting from the field. Center John Bryant led four Broncos in double figures with 18. Forward Mitch Henke added 16 while guard Brody Angley contributed 14 and pulled down 8 rebounds.

Santa Clara began the game a bit sluggish, scoring just 4 points in the first 5:20 of play. They soon found a rhythm after John Bryant and Ben Dowdell got the offense rolling with two quick baskets. The Broncos led 30-29 at the break

San Diego went on a 7-0 run to start the second half until Henke hit a three-point basket at 17:11 to bring the score to 36-33. De'Jon Jackson quickly answered back, scoring an easy lay-up to bring the lead back to 5 for San Diego.

Both teams traded baskets when Henke again hit a three point basket at 11:31 to bring the Broncos back within four. Jackson again answered, knocking down a mid range jumper to put the Toreros up 46-40.

The Broncos gave fans an exciting finish but couldn't take advantage of a one point lead after Henke knocked down a clutch three-point basket with 6:43 remaining in the game.

Bryant scored his 1000th career point with 35.6 remaining in regulation, and brought the Broncos within four. Angley then converted a nifty reverse lay-up with 26.8 left to play to bring the score to 61-57. Henke would knock down a three pointer with 15.9 remaining to bring the Broncos within 3 but that is as close as they would get. San Diego hit clutch free throws down the stretch and finally put Santa Clara away.

The Broncos face San Francisco on Monday night in their final home game of the year.

Contact Chris Furnari at (408) 551-1918 or cfurnari@scu.edu.