BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A 22-9 run early in the second half and strong shooting from the field helped Santa Clara erase a one-point halftime deficit as they defeated Bakersfield Thursday night 60-42 at Rabobank Arena.

The Roadrunners struggled to get their offense moving in the second half after the Broncos opened up on a 13-7 run which included them taking the lead for good just two minutes into the half. The 'Runners managed just 8-of-25 from the field (32%) and 2-of-7 from three-point range (28%) in the game and were held to season-low 18 points in the second half.

“We just came out flat tonight, said head coach Rod Barnes. “It's our responsibility as coaches to make sure our guys are ready and prepared to go and they were not tonight.”

Santa Clara scored the first basket of the second half as Nate Kratch made the first of his back-to-back three-pointers to give the Broncos the lead for good with 18:04 remaining. Kratch would score 11 for the Broncos, one off the pace set by Evan Roquemore's 12 points on 3-of-6 from the field and 4-of-7 from the free-throw line.

For the first time this season Bakersfield did not have a player in double figures as Brandon Barnes (R-Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Lipscomb) led the way for Bakersfield with nine points on 3-of-8 from the field while grabbing six rebounds. Tyrell Corbin (Jr., Columbia, S.C., Salt Lake City CC) added eight for the Roadrunners on 2-of-7 shooting.  

“We didn't defend and we didn't shoot the ball extremely well and we have a lot of work to get back on track,” Barnes said. “I just thought tonight we didn't have the energy and we didn't have the effort and that really disappoints me because we're too talented of a team and we've worked too hard to get to that point.”

Bakersfield struggled defensively in the second half allowing Santa Clara 14 fast break points in the game while being outscored 32-24 in the paint. Several opportunities from the Broncos came off Bakersfield misses allowing them to score in transition.

Aly Ahmed (So., Alexandria, Egypt, Midland CC) made his Bakersfield debut just hours after being granted eligibility to play from the NCAA. Ahmed scored six points on 3-of-7 shooting for the Roadrunners while pulling down three rebounds with four blocks in 12 minutes of action.

Bakersfield heads out on the road for their next five games starting Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Omaha. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 P.M. (CST). That game will be carried on SmartTalk 1230 AM.