Feb. 8, 2014

Box Score

(San Diego, Calif.) - Junior guard Duda Sanadze scored 23 points and Johnny Dee added 18 points, but it wasn't enough to get past the visiting Santa Clara Broncos who came away with a 69-63 victory at the JCP. Sanadze almost matched his season high of 25 points he set in the 69-66 road win at Santa Clara earlier this season. The Broncos made 10-of-20 three-pointers and guards Brandon Clark (23 points) and Jared Brownridge (17 points) practically matched USD's scoring leaders. With the loss the Toreros even up their season record at 13-all while the Broncos move up to 11-15.

The Broncos took a slim 35-34 lead into the locker room at halftime with Dee and SCU's Clark each leading the way with 13 points. In the second half the contest was close the entire way. A three-point play by Sanadze gave USD a 42-41 advantage with 13:55 to go. With just under 10 minutes left a Sanadze jumper gave USD a 51-49 edge. With 8:31 to go SCU's Jerry Brown cashed in on his own 3-point play for a 52-51 lead, and after Chris Sarbaugh connected on 1-of-2 free throws to tie the score at 52-all, USD would find themselves behind the rest of the way. With 4:06 to Dennis Kramer hit his first bucket of the game to pull within 58-56, but Broncos' guard Nate Kratch connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key and the closest USD would get from there is four points.

For the game USD struggled in the shooting department - 37.7% from the field (20-53), 4-of-12 beyond the arc and just 19-of-30 from the free throw line. Besides making 10-of-20 threes, the Broncos cashed in on 13-of-17 free throws. SCU held a 39-34 rebounding edge and totaled 16 offensive boards. For USD Christopher Anderson chipped in with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals.

The Toreros hit the road next week for games at Saint Mary's (Feb. 13, 8pm on ESPNU) and Pacific (Feb. 15, 7pm, on TWCSN).