SANTA CLARA, California – Santa Clara outscored McNeese 36-12 from three-point range and held a 47-28 advantage in rebounds including pulling down 25 offensive boards as the Broncos defeated the Cowboys 79-67 here Friday night.
 
Transfer freshman Larry Johnson led the Cowboys in scoring for the second straight game, this time scoring 18 on the night including 10 for 10 from the free throw line. DJ Richards and Tyshawn Archie added 11 each.
 
But the story of the game was drawn up in the rebound department where the Broncos were able to keep possessions alive with its force on the offensive glass.
 
"We got crushed on the glass," said head coach Bill Armstrong. "That's on me. We had chances to get it into single digits with enough time on the clock but were unable to get the rebounds when we needed them. That was the killer. When they did miss, we weren't able to get the ball so they kept it going."
 
Four Santa Clara players scored in double-figures, led by Elijah Mahi and Sash Gavalyugov with 19 points each.
 
McNeese opened the game fast and led by six through the first three minutes. SCU used a 9-0 run to go ahead 11-8 with 13:25 to play in the half but McNeese answered with five straight points by Archie to go back up 13-11 a minute later.
 
Santa Clara retook the lead at the 9:38 mark, 16-15, but the Cowboys continued to answer this time behind a Jerrell Colbert 3 and a basket by Garwey Dual to make it a 20-16 McNeese advantage with 8:43 on the clock.
 
The lead grew to five at 24-19 with 7:10 to play in the half after a Johnson fast-break layup. SC scored six straight to go up 25-24 with 6:35 to go. The lead changed hands a couple more times the rest of the half and the Broncos would go into the break leading 37-33.
 
Santa Clara took control in the second half, outscoring the Cowboys 42-34 including 8-2 in second chance points.
 
Despite the 12-point loss, McNeese shot 45 percent for the game (23-51) while SC made just 39 percent (26-66).
 
"I was fine with the shots we put up but I didn't like the shot selection early in the second half. I thought we panicked and took some bad ones," said Armstrong.
 
McNeeese also turned the ball over 14 times leading to 20 SCU points and dished out just 10 assists.
 
"That's not who we are," commented Armstrong.
 
McNeese connected on 4 of 16 from three-point range while Santa Clara knocked down 12 of 31. The Cowboys were 17 for 23 at the free throw line, SCU 15 for 25.
 
"We'll get back to work and get things corrected."
 
McNeese will be back in action on Monday night when it hosts Biblical Studies at 6:30 in the Townsley Law Arena.