Santa Clara Triumphs Over Pacific in WCC Tournament Quarterfinals
In a thrilling matchup during the West Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Sunday evening, Santa Clara emerged victorious against Pacific with a score of 76-68. Allen Graves played a crucial role in the win, contributing 19 points off the bench, with an impressive shooting performance that included seven successful shots from the floor—three of which were from beyond the arc—as well as converting both free throw attempts.
This victory allows the third-seeded Santa Clara (25-7) to advance to the semifinals, where they will face No. 2 seed Saint Mary’s. Meanwhile, the upcoming semifinal matchup will see fourth-seeded Oregon State take on top-seeded Gonzaga.
Key Contributions from Broncos
In addition to Graves’ standout performance, the Broncos had several other contributors. Christian Hammond added 14 points, while Elijah Mahi recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sash Gavalyugov also made a significant impact off the bench, scoring 11 points and providing six assists.
Pacific’s Efforts
For Pacific, which ended the game at 18-15 as the sixth seed, Elias Ralph was the standout player, netting 25 points thanks to five shots from three-point range. Jaden Clayton also helped the cause with 12 points and a notable nine assists.
Game Highlights
Graves set the tone early in the game, connecting on all five of his shots in the first half, including two three-pointers, leading Santa Clara to a 45-38 lead at halftime. He continued to excel in the second half, hitting another three-pointer that capped a decisive 12-0 run, pushing the Broncos’ lead to 62-48 with 14 minutes left. From that point, Pacific struggled to close the gap, never coming within eight points of the lead.
