SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Perris Blackwell and Michael Williams keyed San Francisco’s game-changing 22-4 run to open the second half as the Dons defeated Santa Clara 74-67 on Saturday night in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams.
The Dons (7-9), who earned their third straight win and first road victory in six tries this season, got 18 points each from Blackwell and Williams. San Francisco, trailing 35-24 at the half, took it to the Broncos (9-8) to open the second half with a layup by Blackwell and a 3-pointer by Williams to get going. Blackwell scored seven points and Williams five during San Francisco’s 22-4 run that put the Dons on top 46-39 with 12:49 remaining.
Kevin Foster led Santa Clara with 26 points, and Marc Trasolini had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Foster pulled the Broncos back into the lead at 66-65 with back-to-back 3-pointers with 1:51 remaining, but a jumper by Angel Caloiaro and a 3-pointer by Williams gave the Dons the lead for good, 70-66, with 46 seconds left.
The Dons outscored the Broncos 50-32 in the second half, shooting 50 percent (14 of 28) in the process.
