Homecoming weekend was filled with excitement both Friday and Saturday night. Friday night was the homecoming concert, in which Lupe Fiasco put on a stellar show. His energy and intensity were simply amazing. Fortunately the men’s basketball team carried the same intensity and energy into their last home game of the year. Homecoming weekend was capped off by thrilling game against long time rival Santa Clara.
The men’s basketball team challenged Bay Area rival Santa Clara this past Saturday night in War Memorial Gym in their most exciting win of the season. The Dons, who only suited up eight players, defeated the Broncos 67-66 with 0.6 seconds remaining in this year’s Homecoming game.
The Dons, who have had a seven game losing streak against the Broncos stretching over the past three years, stayed neck and neck with their rivals the entire game.
The Dons fired off, with a quick answer from the Broncos. USF pulled through the first half, although never leading by more than two points. It looked doubtful the Dons would have such a promising outcome when later in the first half Santa Clara charged ahead in a 10-1 run. Bronco Marc Trasolini added eight consecutive points to the Bronco’s 10-1 run, as well as eight more in the second half.
Trasolini appeared to have secured yet another win for the Broncos late in the second half, giving them a five-point advantage with nearly two minutes left in the game. This lead was due in part to successful free throws given after Walters was called for a technical foul.
Thirty seconds later, USF’s Angelo Caloiaro made a left corner three-pointer, making the deficit a mere two points. With 30 seconds remaining, Kwame Vaughn, freshman guard for the Dons, filled this deficit with a pair of foul shots as the scoreboard now read 66-66.
With less than 10 seconds left, Santa Clara Bronco Perry Petty made a three-point attempt from the left wing. However, Bronco Michael Santos was whistled for a foul after Vaughn collected Petty’s rebound.
Hearts were racing after Vaughn missed the first free throw attempt. However, as the timer on the scoreboard read 0.6, the final shot of the game was sunk and the losing streak against the rival Broncos was over.
Vaughn nailed a free throw attempt with half a second left in the game. He also kept the Dons in the game with a total of 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Dior Lowhorn helped his undermanned Dons with 13 points and nine boards.
Santa Clara player Kevin Foster played an incredible game with a total of 20 points, which include seven in overtime when the Broncos had a 66-61 lead. Bronco John Bryant had an impressive game as well for his own personal stats as he finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for his 23rd double-double of the season.
The Broncos (14-15, 6-6 WCC) go on to play the WCC leading Gonzaga Bulldogs. USF (10-17, 2-10 WCC) will go on to play Loyola Marymount next Thursday in Los Angeles.
At long last!
“Trasolini appeared to have secured yet another win for the Broncos late in the second half, giving them a five-point advantage with nearly two minutes left in the game. This lead was due in part to successful free throws given after Walters was called for a technical foul”
This was during overtime… not the second half. That fact alone made the game, THAT much more exciting!