PALM DESERT, Calif. – Santa Clara men's basketball put up a great defensive effort against one of the premiere offenses in college basketball in the Saint Louis Billikens, but ultimately finished a point short in a battle of undefeated squads in the desert. The Broncos held Saint Louis, who entered the game averaging 95.6 points per game, to 71 points on 44 percent shooting, and held a one-point advantage inside the final ten seconds before SLU's Kellen Thames scored a game-winning bucket with just eight ticks on the clock. The loss is the first of the year for Santa Clara after starting 6-0 for the third time in the last six years, and they will look to bounce back in the Acrisure Invitational third place game tomorrow evening against Minnesota (4-3). 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Santa Clara (6-1) led by as much as nine in the second half before Saint Louis (6-0) fought their way back into things by erasing the deficit at 48-all with 10:54 on the clock. It was the first of nine instances the score would be tied in the final 11 minutes, which also saw the lead change hands nine times during the same stretch. 
• The Broncos relied heavily on their free throw shooting, which was excellent in the second half at 17-for-20. Christian Hammond knocked down three of those following a foul on a 3-point attempt with less than three minutes remaining to give SCU a 69-67 advantage. In total, SCU scored their final eight points of the game at the charity stripe. 
• SLU's Dion Brown scored a layup with 1:28 remaining to knot the game back up at 69-69, but Allen Graves, who was responsible for Santa Clara's final field goal of the night with a 3-point bucket with 5:22 to go, drew a foul and knocked down 1-of-2 attempts at the stripe to give SCU their final lead of the night at 70-69. 
• The Broncos got a much-needed defensive stop on the ensuing possession as Bukky Oboye came away with a steal, however they were unable to capitalize on the offensive end. Saint Louis took full advantage of their final opportunity by grabbing the lead, and the game at 71-70, on Thames' layup. 
• SCU had the final possession and Brenton Knapper drove into the paint in the waning moments to put up what would have been the game-winner, but the shot missed its mark. 
• Oboye scored all seven of his points in the game's first few minutes of action. His last bucket came via a 3-pointer with 16:39 on the clock that was part of a five-point swing to give the Broncos an early advantage. SCU would hold on to the lead for the duration of the half, which saw them enter the locker room on top 35-31. 
• Santa Clara scored the first five points of the second half to take their largest lead of the game at 40-31 before the Billikens mounted their comeback. 
• The Broncos finished the game a season-best 18-for-22 at the free throw line, but converted on just 37 percent from the floor (23-of-62). 
• The 3-point line was not particularly kind to either team with SCU knocking down 6-of-25 attempts (24 percent) while Saint Louis was just a hair better at 26 percent (7-of-27).
• The teams tied each other in rebounds at 37-37 while the Broncos held a 12-10 advantage on the offensive glass. 
• SLU's Trey Green led all scorers with 21 points. 

NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Elijah Mahi led the Broncos in both points (18) and rebounds with a season-high seven. The senior has scored in double figures in five games on the year. 
• Graves finished with a season-high 13 points and came away with three steals. 
• Oboye tied his career high of six rebounds to go with his seven points and a pair of blocks. 
• Hammond notched 11 points to extend his season double figure scoring streak to seven. 
• Saint Louis ranked 12th nationally in points per game before SCU held them to their lowest scoring output of the season. 
• Santa Clara has led at the half in all seven games this season.
• The Broncos have either won or tied the rebounding battle in all seven games. 

POSTGAME COMMENTS:
  UP NEXT:
 The Broncos will take on Minnesota in tomorrow's Acrisure Invitational third place game. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. PT and will be carried live on truTV.