SANTA CLARA — Santa Clara’s NIT Match desires got here all the way down to a 7-foot middle standing on the 3-point line with the sport’s remaining seconds ticking away.
Freshman Christoph Tilly was the Broncos’ final probability on a quick break. He stopped on the 3-point line as if he was contemplating a shot – one thing he hadn’t carried out efficiently all yr. He seemed throughout the ground to West Coast Convention Co-Participant of the 12 months Brandon Podziemski. Then he seemed on the basket.
Tilly drove laborious in opposition to Sam Houston ahead Kaosi Ezeagu, spun in a circle and created a clear take a look at a layup.
The ball bounced off the rim and out as Santa Clara’s nice season got here to a disappointing finish, a 58-56 loss to Sam Houston within the opening spherical of the NIT Match.
Santa Clara had two timeouts remaining after they hauled in a rebound in their very own finish at 11 seconds left, however opted to not use it and let the Broncos run the size of the ground for the sport’s remaining play.
“You don’t actually have time to attract one thing up or name a timeout,” stated Podziemski, the standout sophomore who hasn’t but determined if he’ll return to SCU for an additional yr. “You simply go and you reside with it.
“Tilly obtained a terrific take a look at the rim. He’s a terrific participant… I’ll dwell with him taking that shot on a regular basis. I belief he’s going to make it. It didn’t go in, however what are you able to do?”
Hopes have been excessive for a Santa Clara workforce that was enjoying in back-to-back postseason tournaments for the primary time since 1996.
Led by Podziemski, a switch from the College of Illinois, the Broncos received 23 common season video games, their most since 1969. They ended the season with seven straight wins and completed in third place behind Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga.
However a 93-87 double-overtime loss to the College of San Francisco within the opening spherical of the WCC Match was adopted by a troublesome efficiency on the Leavey Heart to complete their season on Wednesday.
“Until you’re in a position to reduce the nets down, sadly the season all the time ends with a loss,” stated coach Herb Sendek. “This can be a season we wished to go on ceaselessly as a result of it was such a particular group of individuals.”
The Broncos (23-10) began gradual and took too lengthy to return alive on their dwelling court docket in opposition to Sam Houston (26-7) on Wednesday.
The Bearkats got here out flying behind senior Qua Grant, a Wichita State switch who was the Western Athletic Convention Participant of the 12 months.
The speedy guard had his means with the Santa Clara protection, creating his personal appears to be like from 3-point vary as he scored a game-high 21 factors.
The Broncos didn’t get on the board till 4 minutes within the first half, when graduate pupil Keshawn Justice dropped a 3-pointer. Justice, who led the league in 3-point makes an attempt and lately moved previous Steve Nash for many 3-pointers in SCU historical past, was taking pictures with out concern on this one (3-for-7 from 3-point vary).
However the Broncos couldn’t get quite a lot of clear pictures off within the first half in opposition to Sam Houston’s tight protection, one which was fourth within the nation this yr whereas holding opponents to 58.8 factors per recreation. Sam Houston led 30-26 going into the second.
It wasn’t till the Broncos have been down 43-33 with 14 minutes to play that they lastly got here alive.
With Podziemski (six rebounds) and Tilly (eight rebounds) dominating the boards, the Broncos fought for second-chance factors and clawed their means again to inside 4 after a Podziemski 3-pointer.
They reduce it to 46-43 after a slick steal by Carlos Stewart, who ran the opposite means for a simple basket.
With a pair of 3-pointers by Justice late within the half, the Broncos lastly reclaimed the lead.
“We figured it was our final 20 minutes on the market, and we battle for guys like Keshawn, for guys who put their foot on this program and actually modified it since they’ve been right here,” Podziemski stated. “We introduced extra effort.”
The roof practically got here off the Leavey Heart when Tilly completed a one-handed dunk to place the Broncos forward 53-50 with 4:26 to play.
Sam Houston later went forward with 52 seconds left on a brief jumper from Cameron Huefner.
Then the Broncos held tight on protection to safe one remaining possession with 9 seconds left, however Tilly couldn’t convert the layup with Ezeagu in his face.
“I switched onto the large man driving down the lane and I knew in that scenario I needed to play it protected, I’m not selecting up one other low-cost foul,” Ezeagu stated. “So I simply walled-up and he missed a layup.”
There was some contact earlier than the layup try, however not sufficient for the officers to make a game-changing name.
“There’s by no means actually a means you'll be able to put together for this,” a teary-eyed Justice stated after his remaining recreation. “Giving it my all these 5 years, there’s nowhere else I’d ever say I wish to play, no different coach I’d wish to play for. I really feel so many feelings. I simply wished it for the fellows.”