Garnett Helps Santa Clara Claim Third Place

WCC/Big Sky

Marlon Garnett scored 21 points to lead Santa Clara to a 71-66 victory over Georgia Tech in the consolation game of the Cable Car Classic on Saturday night in San Jose, Calif.

Santa Clara (9-3) was up 68-53 with 3:31 left in the game, but Georgia Tech (6-7) went on a 12-0 run - led by guard Stephon Marbury with a pair of 3-pointers and a layup - to pull within 68-64 with a minute to go.

Santa Clara missed three free throws before Garnett hit one with 10.1 seconds left. Marbury’s layup narrowed the gap to 69-66. But with 3 seconds left, Santa Clara’s Drew Zurek hit two free throws to complete the scoring.

Marbury finished with 22 points.

Portland 70, Boise St. 49

At Boise, the Pilots (8-2) stifled the Broncos (3-7) with an aggressive full-court press defense and junior guard Kweemada King and junior center Greg Closterman provided the offense with 15 and 14 points, respectively, in the championship game of the Albertson’s Holiday Classic.

Senior forward Phil Rodman led Boise State with 22 points.

Notre Dame 84, Loyola Marymount 51

At South Bend, Ind., Ryan Hoover scored 20 points to lead the Irish (5-4) to victory over the Lions (8-3).

Notre Dame forced Loyola, which averaged more than 74 points per game coming into the contest, to play a half-court offense. As a result, the normally up-tempo Lions shot only 36 percent from the floor.

Big Sky

Indiana 82, Weber St. 62

At Indianapolis, Brian Evans scored 21 points to lead the Hoosiers (7-5) past the Wildcats (6-5) to the Hoosier Classic title.

Indiana never trailed, building its lead to as many as 26 points before Weber State closed the gap with sharp shooting in the final 5 minutes.

Evans earned most valuable player honors, following up a 25-point performance in Friday’s first-round win over Appalachian State.

Indiana has won all 14 Classic titles.

Jimmy DeGraffenreid led Weber State with 17 points.

Drexel 68, Montana State 62

At Bozeman, Mont., Chuck Guittar had 15 points, including two free throws with 15 seconds remaining, as the Dragons (6-2) downed the Bobcats (7-3) in the championship game of the Bobcat Holiday Stores Classic.

Guittar hit five of his points in succession to put Drexel up 64-56 with just 4 minutes remaining.

Nico Harrison led MSU with 20 points.

Michigan St. 68, Idaho St. 55

At East Lansing, Mich., Quinton Brooks scored 16 points as the Spartans (6-6) took charge early and beat the Bengals (3-6) for third place in the Oldsmobile Spartan Classic tournament.

Guard Kahn Cotton and reserve forward Rob Preston led Idaho State (3-6) with 12 points each. The loss was the fifth straight for the Bengals, who shot just 31 percent (20 for 64).

Montana 70, Cal State Fullerton 62

At Fullerton, Calif., Nate Covill scored 16 points to lead the Grizzlies (8-3), the defending Big Sky Conference champions, past the Titans (1-7), who are off to their worst start since the 1964-65 season.

Cal Poly SLO 78, Northern Arizona 75

At San Luis Obispo, Calif., Ben Larson and Shanta Cotright scored 19 points each as the Mustangs (5-5) defeated the Lumberjacks (3-6).

The game was tied 19 times, the final tie at 66 with 6:59 remaining.