San Diego State routs Santa Clara
Associated Press
11/20/09 12:45 AM EST
SAN DIEGO — Billy White scored 17 points and San Diego State used an 18-0 run in the second half to rout Santa Clara 86-53 on Thursday night in the West Coast Classic.
San Diego State (2-1), coming off an 80-58 loss at St. Mary's Monday night, scored 18 consecutive points to take a 58-26 lead with 12:04 left. The Aztecs twice increased their lead to 40 points.
White, who sat out Saturday's season opener with a wrist injury, had six of the points in the 18-0 run, including a thundering dunk off a fastbreak.
D.J. Gay, Tyrone Shelley and freshman Chase Tapley each scored 12 points for San Diego State, which avoided losing consecutive games in November for the first time since 2002.
Niyi Harrison led Santa Clara (2-1) with 14 points and Raymond Cowels added 11.
The Broncos, who trailed 38-22 at halftime, shot just 27.7 percent (18 of 65) from the field and had 19 turnovers.
Kawhi Leonard had a game-high 13 rebounds for the Aztecs, who outrebounded Santa Clara 45-37.
San Diego State trailed 8-6 nearly seven minutes into the game when it went on the 21-2 run that gave the Aztecs a 27-10 lead with 6:01 left in the half.
The Broncos missed 9 of 10 shots in the stretch with four turnovers. Santa Clara got back to within 11 points twice before San Diego State took a 16-point halftime lead.
The West Coast Classic is a round-robin tournament in which five teams play two games at home and two on the road.
