Bal’s late basket leads Santa Clara to 77-76 victory over No. 23 Gonzaga
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Adama-Alpha Bal scored the go-ahead basket with 4.6 seconds remaining and Santa Clara beat No. 23 Gonzaga 77-76 on Thursday night.
Bal had 17 points and six assists as the Broncos (12-6, 3-0 West Coast Conference) beat the Bulldogs for the first time since Jan. 20, 2011, snapping a 26-game losing streak.
“Obviously a tremendous win for our team and our program,” Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek said. “Certainly couldn’t be prouder of our players. They played with great grit and resiliency. They really played together.”
Brenton Knapper added 16 points as five Broncos players scored in double figures.
A sellout crowd at the Leavey Center erupted when the buzzer sounded and many fans stormed the court.
“It was amazing having all of the fans storm the court, being able to see everybody, just pure joy,” Santa Clara forward Johnny O'Neil said. “That was something that I’m never going to forget.”
Anton Watson matched a career-high with 32 points to lead Gonzaga (11-5, 2-1). He added nine rebounds and six steals in the loss.
“Anton was spectacular tonight,” Bulldogs coach Mark Few said. “It’s tough. We had some not-great games from a lot of other people. Didn’t get much of anything out of other people, so it’s hard on the road to get it done.”
Ryan Nembhard scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and Braden Huff added 14 points.
Trailing 52-44, Gonzaga went on a 19-6 run to take a 63-58 lead with 10:48 remaining. Santa Clara cut the lead to 76-74 on a dunk by O’Neil with 50 seconds remaining.
Following a Bulldogs miss, Bal drew a foul with 14.3 seconds left but only made one of two free throws, cutting the lead to 76-75.
Nembhard missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving Santa Clara another chance and Bal scored the go-ahead basket.
“I just felt like it was my moment,” Bal said. ... “It’s definitely a special game.”
Added O'Neil: “That’s what we all came here for. We all wanted to come here to make this happen, and it happened tonight.”
Gonzaga missed its first 11 3-pointers and Santa Clara built a 38-25 lead. But the Bulldogs closed the first half on a 9-2 run to cut the Broncos’ lead to 40-34 at halftime.
Gonzaga made just two of its 20 3-pointers for the game and got outrebounded 44-31.
“We showed some courage and some toughness coming back and putting ourselves in position to win, but we just didn’t make enough plays down the stretch to finish it off,” Few said.
Former Santa Clara standout and Basketball Hall of Famer Steve Nash was in attendance and received a standing ovation when he was shown on the video screen in the first half.
The Broncos wore throwback uniforms from the 1990s when Nash led the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of first-round upset wins.
BIG PICTURE
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs are in serious jeopardy of falling out of the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time in 144 weeks. Gonzaga fell to 0-2 on the road this season.
Santa Clara: The Broncos improved to 3-0 in the WCC for the first time since the 2003-04 season and proved that they are a contender to win the league. Santa Clara will face another stiff test Saturday when they welcome Bay Area rival Saint Mary’s (CA).
UP NEXT
Gonzaga: At Pepperdine next Thursday night.
Santa Clara: Hosts Saint Mary’s (CA) on Saturday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Graham Ike vs. Johnny O'Neil (Ryan Nembhard gains possession) | |||
19:46 | Nolan Hickman turnover (bad pass) | |||
19:28 | Brenton Knapper turnover (bad pass) | |||
19:09 | Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot | |||
19:07 | Dusty Stromer offensive rebound | |||
19:02 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
19:00 | Adama-Alpha Bal defensive rebound | |||
18:52 | +2 | Carlos Marshall Jr. makes two point jump shot | 0-2 | |
18:31 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point jump shot | 2-2 | |
18:13 | +2 | Johnny O'Neil makes two point layup (Brenton Knapper assists) | 2-4 | |
17:49 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
17:47 | Christoph Tilly defensive rebound | |||
17:45 | Christoph Tilly turnover (traveling) | |||
17:29 | Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot | |||
17:27 | Adama-Alpha Bal defensive rebound | |||
17:05 | Graham Ike personal foul | |||
17:02 | Adama-Alpha Bal misses three point jump shot | |||
17:00 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
16:52 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
16:50 | Brenton Knapper defensive rebound | |||
16:45 | +2 | Adama-Alpha Bal makes two point layup (Brenton Knapper assists) | 2-6 | |
16:31 | Graham Ike misses two point layup | |||
16:29 | Christoph Tilly defensive rebound | |||
16:15 | Adama-Alpha Bal misses two point jump shot | |||
16:13 | Francisco Caffaro offensive rebound | |||
16:05 | +2 | Johnny O'Neil makes two point layup (Francisco Caffaro assists) | 2-8 | |
15:51 | TV timeout | |||
15:34 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup | 4-8 | |
15:26 | Adama-Alpha Bal misses three point jump shot | |||
15:24 | Anton Watson defensive rebound | |||
15:21 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point layup | 6-8 | |
14:55 | +3 | Brenton Knapper makes three point jump shot (Francisco Caffaro assists) | 6-11 | |
14:33 | Francisco Caffaro personal foul | |||
14:28 | Graham Ike turnover (carrying) | |||
14:27 | +2 | Tyeree Bryan makes two point layup (Carlos Marshall Jr. assists) | 6-13 | |
14:06 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Nolan Hickman assists) | 8-13 | |
13:53 | Christoph Tilly misses two point layup | |||
13:51 | Jake Ensminger offensive rebound | |||
13:46 | Jake Ensminger misses two point layup | |||
13:44 | Jake Ensminger offensive rebound | |||
13:39 | Jake Ensminger turnover (lost ball) (Ben Gregg steals) | |||
13:33 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 10-13 | |
13:27 | Carlos Marshall Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Ryan Nembhard steals) | |||
13:12 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 12-13 | |
13:12 | Jake Ensminger shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
13:12 | +1 | Anton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 13-13 | |
13:00 | Carlos Marshall Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Nolan Hickman steals) | |||
12:41 | Braden Huff misses two point jump shot | |||
12:39 | Carlos Marshall Jr. defensive rebound | |||
12:37 | Carlos Marshall Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
12:35 | Jake Ensminger offensive rebound | |||
12:20 | Tyeree Bryan misses three point jump shot | |||
12:18 | Broncos offensive rebound | |||
12:14 | Broncos turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
12:02 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point jump shot | 15-13 | |
11:52 | +3 | Tyeree Bryan makes three point jump shot (Adama-Alpha Bal assists) | 15-16 | |
11:24 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
11:22 | Jalen Benjamin defensive rebound | |||
11:16 | Jalen Benjamin misses two point jump shot | |||
11:14 | Jake Ensminger offensive rebound | |||
11:01 | +2 | Jake Ensminger makes two point layup | 15-18 | |
10:46 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
10:44 | Jake Ensminger defensive rebound | |||
10:38 | Jake Ensminger misses three point jump shot | |||
10:36 | Braden Huff defensive rebound | |||
10:30 | Nolan Hickman misses two point layup | |||
10:28 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
10:28 | Jake Ensminger personal foul | |||
10:28 | TV timeout | |||
10:15 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot | 17-18 | |
9:54 | Braden Huff shooting foul (Christoph Tilly draws the foul) | |||
9:54 | +1 | Christoph Tilly makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-19 | |
9:54 | +1 | Christoph Tilly makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-20 | |
9:44 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot | 19-20 | |
9:35 | Braden Huff blocks Carlos Marshall Jr.'s two point layup | |||
9:33 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
9:20 | Braden Huff misses three point jump shot | |||
9:16 | Broncos defensive rebound | |||
8:45 | Broncos turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
8:34 | Brenton Knapper blocks Ryan Nembhard's two point layup | |||
8:32 | Brenton Knapper defensive rebound | |||
8:25 | Carlos Marshall Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:23 | Christoph Tilly offensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Adama-Alpha Bal misses three point jump shot | |||
8:17 | Carlos Marshall Jr. offensive rebound | |||
8:17 | Graham Ike personal foul | |||
8:10 | +3 | Brenton Knapper makes three point jump shot (Adama-Alpha Bal assists) | 19-23 | |
8:01 | Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot | |||
7:59 | Camaron Tongue defensive rebound | |||
7:44 | TV timeout | |||
7:43 | Brenton Knapper turnover (bad pass) (Nolan Hickman steals) | |||
7:38 | Christoph Tilly shooting foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul) | |||
7:38 | Ben Gregg misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:38 | Ben Gregg misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:38 | Broncos defensive rebound | |||
7:16 | Christoph Tilly turnover (lost ball) (Anton Watson steals) | |||
6:59 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
6:57 | Tyeree Bryan defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | Tyeree Bryan misses two point jump shot | |||
6:49 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
6:41 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
6:39 | Camaron Tongue defensive rebound | |||
6:17 | Christoph Tilly turnover (bad pass) (Anton Watson steals) | |||
6:03 | Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot | |||
6:01 | Brenton Knapper defensive rebound | |||
5:48 | Brenton Knapper misses three point jump shot | |||
5:41 | Brenton Knapper offensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Tyeree Bryan misses two point layup | |||
5:34 | Nolan Hickman defensive rebound | |||
5:26 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point layup | 21-23 | |
5:15 | Dusty Stromer personal foul | |||
5:12 | +3 | Johnny O'Neil makes three point jump shot (Carlos Marshall Jr. assists) | 21-26 | |
5:00 | Anton Watson misses two point jump shot | |||
4:58 | Tyeree Bryan defensive rebound | |||
4:54 | Braden Huff shooting foul (Carlos Marshall Jr. draws the foul) | |||
4:54 | +1 | Carlos Marshall Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-27 | |
4:54 | +1 | Carlos Marshall Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-28 | |
4:42 | Graham Ike misses two point jump shot | |||
4:40 | Anton Watson offensive rebound | |||
4:37 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point layup | 23-28 | |
4:15 | +2 | Jalen Benjamin makes two point jump shot | 23-30 | |
3:55 | Francisco Caffaro blocks Ryan Nembhard's two point layup | |||
3:53 | Tyeree Bryan defensive rebound | |||
3:45 | Carlos Marshall Jr. offensive foul | |||
3:45 | Carlos Marshall Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:45 | TV timeout | |||
3:32 | Graham Ike turnover (bad pass) (Adama-Alpha Bal steals) | |||
3:25 | +2 | Adama-Alpha Bal makes two point layup | 23-32 | |
3:13 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point jump shot | 25-32 | |
2:52 | Graham Ike shooting foul (Francisco Caffaro draws the foul) | |||
2:52 | +1 | Francisco Caffaro makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-33 | |
2:52 | Francisco Caffaro misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:52 | Tyeree Bryan offensive rebound | |||
2:49 | +3 | Adama-Alpha Bal makes three point jump shot (Tyeree Bryan assists) | 25-36 | |
2:44 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
2:40 | Nolan Hickman turnover (lost ball) (Adama-Alpha Bal steals) | |||
2:29 | +2 | Jalen Benjamin makes two point layup (Tyeree Bryan assists) | 25-38 | |
2:14 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
2:12 | Tyeree Bryan defensive rebound | |||
2:05 | Adama-Alpha Bal misses two point jump shot | |||
2:03 | Braden Huff defensive rebound | |||
1:56 | +3 | Braden Huff makes three point jump shot (Nolan Hickman assists) | 28-38 | |
1:33 | +2 | Tyeree Bryan makes two point layup (Jalen Benjamin assists) | 28-40 | |
1:17 | +2 | Braden Huff makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 30-40 | |
0:58 | Tyeree Bryan misses three point jump shot | |||
0:56 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
0:44 | Francisco Caffaro shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
0:44 | +1 | Anton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-40 | |
0:44 | Broncos 30 second timeout | |||
0:44 | +1 | Anton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-40 | |
0:19 | Carlos Marshall Jr. misses two point layup | |||
0:17 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
0:04 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup | 34-40 | |
0:00 | End of period |