Box Score Game Book (pdf)

SANTA CLARA, California – In the consolation game of the Cable Car Classic, the Wofford men’s basketball team defeated Santa Clara 80-72 at the Leavey Center on Wednesday night. The Terriers had four players score in double-figures as they led by as many as 17 points, but had to make free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Wofford is 8-7 overall, while Santa Clara is 7-8. The Terriers were led by Noah Dahlman and Jamar Diggs with 14 points each, while Cameron Rundles and Junior Salters both added thirteen points. Tim Johnson led the team with ten boards. The Broncos were led by Raymond Cowells with 24 points.

“We made everything we threw up there in the first half and we had 15 assists on the 17 makes,” said head coach Mike Young. “We are not going to shoot that well in each half and we had to grind it out in the second half on their home floor. They got a little wind under their sails and we did not defend a few things very well. To come out of here 1-1 and beat the host school, that is okay. I am proud of our team and look forward to the next sixteen games.”

The Terriers opened with threes from Jamar Diggs and Junior Salters to take an early 6-2 lead. The score was tied at 14 and 16 before Junior Salters hit another three at 13:14 for a 19-16 advantage. The first was the beginning of a 7-0 run by the Terriers as they took a 23-16 lead.

Wofford kept up the scoring pace and after a three by Cameron Rundles took a 35-22 lead with 5:06 left in the half. Following a bucket from Nathan Parker, the Terriers were up 42-28 with under three minutes on the clock. At the break, Wofford had a 44-31 lead as the Terriers were 8-of-11 from three in the first half.

To open the second half, Wofford pushed the lead to 51-34 after a bucket and free throw by Brad Loesing. However the Broncos would score the next six points to cut the lead to 51-40 with 12:47 on the clock. A three by Santa Clara at 11:25 cut the score to 55-45. Wofford kept the lead at nine for several possessions until a three by Junior Salters gave the Terriers a 63-51 lead.

The Broncos chipped away at the lead and with 5:41 on the clock Wofford’s lead was cut to 64-57. After a bucket by Ben Dowdell, the lead was only five for the Terriers at 64-59. Cameron Rundles answered with a lay-up and the Wofford lead was back to 67-60 with 3:21 left in the second.

The Terriers got the lead back to nine at 69-60 after two free throws by Jamar Diggs, but the Broncos answered with a three by Raymond Cowells with 2:24 left in the game. Brad Loesing hit a floater to take a 71-63 lead, but Cowells hit another three for a 71-66 score with 1:16 on the clock. Brad Loesing added three free throws to extend the Terrier lead to 74-66 with 64 seconds left.

The Broncos had two lay-ups to make it a four point game. Jamar Diggs then hit four free throws for a 78-70 lead with 39 seconds, but the Broncos added a pair as well to make it a six-point game. Corey Godzinski hit a pair of free throws for the 80-72 final score.

Wofford shot 53.2% from the floor and 50.0% from behind the arc. From the free throw line, the Terriers were 70.0%. Santa Clara shot 42.6% overall and were 58.3% from three. They were 68.4% from the line. Santa Clara had a 36-26 lead on the boards and each team had seven steals.

The 44 points scored by Wofford in the first half were the most in the opening half this season. The Terriers also faced former assistant coach Dustin Kerns in the game, who served as an assistant under Mike Young and is now an assistant at Santa Clara. Noah Dahlman has scored in double-digits in all 15 games this season. Wofford scored 80 or more for the fourth time this season.

After a week off, the Terriers will return to the floor on Thursday, January 7 at UNC Greensboro.