BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The CSUB men's basketball team overcame a 16-point deficit midway through the second half, but Santa Clara sophomore Kevin Foster hit a long three with a hand in his face in the waning seconds to lift the Broncos to an 84-81 win Friday night at Rabobank Arena. It was the season opener for both teams.
Senior forwards Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) and Santwon Latunde (Landover, Md./Cowley County CC) led three Roadrunners in double figures with 20 and 18 points respectively. The duo also recorded double-doubles, with Latunde grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds and Blakley adding 10.
The Roadrunners also go an encouraging effort from highly-touted freshman guard Stephon Carter (Garces HS), who scored 14 points with four rebounds and two blocks in his collegiate debut.
Foster led a quartet of Santa Clara players in double figures with 21 points. Troy Paine chipped in 15 and a team-high nine boards.
Santa Clara went up 62-46 when a Raymond Cowels three capped a 16-0 Bronco run with 13:08 to play. But CSUB used a 25-15 rebounding edge in the second half to chip away at the lead. The Roadrunner run eventually reached 26-6 as they took their first lead of the second half, 70-68, when Blakley nailed a long three from the corner with 6:01 left.
The game stayed tight for the duration, but CSUB missed four free throws in the final 3:19, and that left the door open just wide enough for Santa Clara to sneak through.
Trailing 80-79 inside of 30 seconds to play, George DeLeon (Washington Heights, N.Y./Fresno CC) grabbed a big offensive rebound of a Carter miss and fed Latunde, who earned a pair of free throws fighting through traffic in the paint. Latunde missed a chance to give CSUB the lead when he made just one of two from the line.
Santa Clara then ran a play for Foster, who dribbled left around a high screen at the top of the key, then drilled his long three with seven seconds remaining despite terrific defensive pressure from the Roadrunners.
Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) raced upcourt, but the Broncos alertly fouled him with three seconds on the clock. Bragg made one of two before fouling Foster, who also made one of two to restore Santa Clara's three-point lead with two seconds to go.
Foster missed the second free throw. Blakley grabbed the rebound, but he lost control as he turned upcourt to launch a desperation three for the tie.
CSUB returns to action Tuesday night when Utah Valley University visits for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
