PORTLAND – Santa Clara's furious comeback bid came up just short in overtime against the Portland Pilots. The Broncos erased a 17-point deficit to send the game to overtime, but was unable to hold on in final moments as they dropped the contest by a final score of 80-75.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Portland scored the game's first eight points and maintained control for the majority of the opening 20 minutes, leading by as much as 16 with 7:40 left. However, the Santa Clara Defense cracked down and allowed just one more field goal for the remainder of the period.
• Carlos Marshall, Jr. knocked down a big triple to spark a 13-5 Bronco run to finish the half. The Broncos trailed 33-25 at the break.
• Portland (10-20, 4-11) came out of the half swinging, knocking down treys on their first two possessions to regain a double figure advantage at 39-25.
• Santa Clara (18-12, 9-6) used an 8-0 run to cut it back down six midway through the half, but Portland responded with a 7-0 run of their own to regain control.
• The Broncos made another furious comeback bid with Adama-Alpha Bal and Brenton Knapper knocking down three-straight triples to cut the deficit down to three at 61-58 with 5:35 remaining.
• Santa Clara then scored the final four points of regulation with Johnny O'Neil tying the game at 65-65 on a free throw.
• In overtime, O'Neil knocked down a quick triple to give Santa Clara their first lead of the game, but the Pilots quickly regained the lead thanks to five-straight points from Tyler Robertson.
• Portland grabbed control for good by scoring six-straight to make it 78-72 with 1:13.
• The win broke a 16-game win streak for the Broncos in the series.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Bal scored 22 points to lead the Broncos while O'Neil tallied 17 points. The duo combined for 10 3-pointers in the contest.
• It was the eighth 20-point game of the season for Bal. 
• Marshall, Jr. also had a solid night off the bench with 15 points, while Tyeree Bryan flirted with a double-double with eight points and eight rebounds.
• The Broncos committed a season-low four turnovers.
• Portland shot 51 percent for the night while Santa Clara hit 38 percent on their end.
• Santa Clara knocked down 13 treys on 36 attempts 
• The teams tied on the boards with 39-apiece.
• Robertson led all scorers with 32 points. 

 
UP NEXT:
The Broncos will host San Francisco on Saturday in the regular-season finale. Santa Clara will honor seniors/graduates Jalen Benjamin, Francisco Caffaro and Carlos Marshall, Jr. in a pregame senior day ceremony.