Field Level Media
Nov 13, 2019
Guglielmo Caruso had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead Santa Clara to a 70-62 win over cold-shooting Washington State on Tuesday night in a nonconference game at Santa Clara, Calif.
Trey Wertz added 18 points and nine rebounds for Santa Clara (3-0), and Jalen Williams scored 10 points. D.J. Mitchell contributed eight boards as Santa Clara outrebounded Washington State 43-34.
Washington State (1-1) was led by 19 points from Isaac Bonton, 11 of them coming in the second half. CJ Elleby had 10 points, making 4 of 14 from the field, before fouling out with 2:48 left in the game.
The Cougars, who shot only 27.8 percent from the field in the second half, missed nine consecutive shots when Santa Clara went on an 8-0 run to build a 54-44 lead with 11:20 left in the game. Washington State was 1 of 13 from beyond the arc in the second half.
Bonton's layup with 8:59 remaining, cutting the deficit to 54-46, snapped a scoreless streak of 6:32 for Washington State. Bonton was the only Washington State player to make a field goal in the second half for a span of 11:10 until Marvin Cannon scored in transition with 4:21 left to cut the gap to 63-53.
A three-point play by Bonton with 3:06 left cut the lead to 63-56 after Santa Clara was on top by as many as 14 points.
The Cougars got within 67-60 with 1:13 left on a 3-pointer by DJ Rodman.
After Williams made one of two free throw attempts with 46 seconds remaining, Bonton converted a layup with 38 seconds left and was fouled. He missed the ensuing free throw, and Santa Clara hung on to a 68-62 lead.
Wertz made two free throws with 31 seconds left to secure the win.
The Broncos won despite committing 21 turnovers, leading to a 16-9 points-off-turnovers edge for Washington State. Santa Clara's 34-22 edge in the paint also proved to be important.
--Field Level Media