USD Loses Close One to Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA — Statistically, the game between the University of San Diego and Santa Clara was every bit as close as the final score.

Santa Clara defeated USD, 55-53, in the West Coast Athletic Conference opener for both clubs Friday night at Toso Pavilion.

In terms of intensity, USD Coach Hank Egan thought there was a gap between the clubs.

“When you go into conference play, everything raises in intensity,” Egan said. “I don’t think we raised our level like they did. We didn’t get after them as hard as they got after us.”

Yet, a couple of free throws by one of Santa Clara’s worst shooters and a missed 10-footer by Torero guard Mark Bostic made the difference in the end.

This was how close it was: Each team took 46 shots from the floor and got 30 rebounds.

USD led at halftime, 26-25, and the lead changed hands through much of the second half. The Toreros fought back from a 51-46 deficit with 2:31 to play.

With 38 seconds remaining in the game and Santa Clara leading 53-51, Bronco forward Matt Wilgenbush (79% free-throw shooter) missed the front end of a one-and-one. The rebound was tipped back to guard Chris Lane, who was fouled while going after the loose ball.

Lane, 0 for 6 from the foul line this season, hit both ends of a one-and-one to make it 55-51 with 35 seconds to play.

USD guard Pete Murphy hit a 20-footer from the right corner to make it 55-53 with 26 seconds left.

After forward Mitch Burley missed the front end of a one-and-one for Santa Clara, the Toreros had the ball and a chance to tie. Murphy got the ball in the right corner and appeared to try and shake loose for the type of shot he had hit seconds earlier.

“They cut him off pretty good,” Egan said. “They double-teamed him, and we were able to get a decent shot by swinging the ball around to the back side.”

Bostic’s 10-footer from the left baseline hit the front rim and the Broncos came down with the rebound.

“The shot felt good,” Bostic said. “The two shots I took in the first half rolled around and went in. I should have hit it, but I know I was the last open man they were looking to.”

It was a night when the USD offense, which connected on only 39% of its shots, rarely seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

“The offense wasn’t too smooth,” said center Scott Thompson, who was the game’s high scorer and rebounder with 17 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. “It seemed like we were taking quick shots and weren’t in our rhythm.”

Forward Mark Manor added 12 points and Murphy had 11, all in the second half. Murphy missed 16 minutes of the first half after picking up his third foul.

“He’s one of our main outside shooters,” Egan said of Murphy. “But in past games this season, someone moved in and filled the void when we needed it. That didn’t happen tonight.”

The Toreros weren’t pleased with their performance, but they were quite impressed with the way the Broncos played. Santa Clara entered the game with a 5-9 mark, but rose to the occasion in front of 3,214 fans.

“They were well prepared for us,” Egan said. “They cut off a lot of things we do, and they did a heck of a job taking away our basic stuff.”

In addition to playing smart and aggressive defense, the Broncos also hit 50% of their shots from the floor.