Web update: Bryant passes Awtrey's record as Broncos eliminate Toreros
By Matthew Cucuzza
Dennis Awtrey's 39-year reign as Santa Clara's all-time leading rebounder is over.
John Bryant surpassed Awtrey's record with 27 boards Saturday night as no. 4 seed Santa Clara ousted reigning West Coast Conference Tournament Champions no. 5 San Diego with an 80-69 victory at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
"It's an honor just to be no. 1 in SCU history," said Bryant. "With him being such a great player, it's an honor.
Bryant's 27 rebounds are the most in any NCAA Division I game this season.
Recently named the 2009 WCC Player of the Year, Bryant also set a WCC Tournament record for rebounds in single game, surpassing former San Francisco Don Darryl Johnson's record of 20, set in 1992.
The overall tournament record is 40, set in 1991 by Pepperdine's Geoff Lear.
"I've never seen 17 rebounds in a half, let alone 27 in a game," said second-year San Diego head coach Bill Grier. "There is a reason he's Player of the Year."
Bryant's all-time Santa Clara rebound count now stands at 1,142. Awtrey collected 1,135 in his four years at Santa Clara (1967-1970).
The senior center also posted a team-high 24 points and was 12-for-12 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Kevin Foster had 21 points and freshman forward Marc Trasolini added 18 for the Broncos, who advance to Sunday night's semifinal game for a rematch against no. 1 seed Gonzaga.
"I'm really proud of all our freshmen growing up, and even more proud of our seniors stepping up," said Santa Clara head coach Kerry Keating. "They really needed to be seniors tonight."
Santa Clara's other senior, Calvin Johnson, converted on his only two shots of the game in the second half, both of which were timely 3-pointers to extend Santa Clara's lead.
The Broncos dominated the glass in the first half, pulling down 26 rebounds to San Diego's eight. Seventeen of those rebounds were corralled by Bryant, who also posted 11 points to complete his 25th double-double of the season before halftime.
"The 17 really set the tone for the two ways we wanted to try to win this game, which is on the defensive end and the boards," said Keating.
Foster's 3-pointer with 15:18 left in the first half put the Broncos ahead 11-8, a lead they never squandered. Santa Clara ended the first half with a 16-5 run and entered the locker room with a 38-23 lead.
San Diego could not come within fewer than seven points in the second half despite 13 second-half turnovers from the Broncos.
San Diego forward Rob Jones converted a field goal with 10:13 remaining in the game to make the score 54-46, but Broncos forward Ben Dowdell was fouled as he nailed a jumper and sank the ensuing free throw. Calvin Johnson sank one of his two 3-pointers one minute later to put Santa Clara ahead 60-46.
Jones led the Toreros with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Roberto Mafra added 13 points for San Diego.
Bryant out-rebounded the entire San Diego team. The Toreros could muster only 24 boards to Santa Clara's 47.
The Broncos hung tight for 37 minutes with Gonzaga on Feb. 26 at the Leavey Center despite suffering from two technical foul calls for fans throwing items onto the court. Gonzaga won that game 81-73.
"We had every right to win that game," said Keating. "We were right there."
Tomorrow's game against Gonzaga will be televised live on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m.