Callison block saves Washington State win over Santa Clara (Dec 17, 2016)
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Josh Hawkinson scored 21 points and Washington State staged a furious comeback in the last six minutes, defeating Santa Clara 69-68 on Saturday when Charles Callison came up with the game-saving block.
The Cougars (6-5) scored 14 of the game's final 16 points, but couldn't breathe a sigh of relief until Callison sealed the win with his last second block of SCU's Jared Brownridge. It was only fitting that the game lied in their hands, as Brownridge had scored 25 points and Callison was at the center of WSU's rally.
The Cougars trailed 66-55 with less than six minutes to play when they began to catch their rhythm. Callison brought WSU to within 66-65 on a 3-pointer with 2:09 remaining, and his layup with 1:25 left gave the team its first lead since halftime.
Santa Clara (5-7) missed its last seven shots, but still had a chance to send the game into overtime in the closing seconds when they trailed 69-66. WSU chose to foul Jarvis Pugh with seven seconds left to prevent a 3-pointer, and his pair of free throws brought within one.
Callison, who ranks third in the Pac-12 in free throw percentage, missed the front end of a one-and-one to set the stage for the thrilling conclusion. Brownridge pulled up near the 3-point line, only to have Callison swat away the game winner.
''I knew he was going to try to get the last shot up at the 3 and I just tried to make a big play and not foul him,'' Callison said.
WSU showed a level of resiliency that was lacking in previous seasons, but third-year WSU coach Ernie Kent believe Saturday's comeback could be the turning in his program.
''One of the things that has kept me awake a lot of nights the last three years is when they have that saying at the end of an event here that we Coug'd it and I always kept saying `Boy, wouldn't it be great to change that around to where it meant a positive thing, that Coug'd it means you pulled it out,' " Kent said. ''...Maybe this is the start of something for us.''
BIG PICTURE
Santa Clara: Brownridge reached the 25-point mark for the fourth time this season, and improved his scoring average to 17.6 points per game. His seven made 3-pointers tied a season high. The Broncos have one game remaining before West Coast Conference play begins against BYU.
Washington State: Hawkinson has scored in double digits every year. Ike Iroegbu, who is the third on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game, had just five points on 2-6 shooting. The Cougars begin Pac-12 play at Washington on Jan. 1.
UP NEXT
Santa Clara will play at Valparaiso on Thursday
Washington State hosts Sacramento State on Wednesday.
