By Staff
Doron Perkins scored 15 points to lead Santa Clara to a 76-62 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday night in the seventh-place game of the Maui Invitational.
The Broncos (1-2) led 38-26 at halftime and took their biggest lead at 58-40 on a layup by Brandon Rohe with 9:56 to play.
The Chippewas (0-3) then went on a 13-3 run to get to 61-53 with 5:07 left on a 3-pointer by Tom Pantlind, their third three in the run.
Santa Clara took back control by holding the Chippewas scoreless for the next two and a half minutes and a short jumper by Perkins made it 65-53 with 2:52 to play.
Travis Niesen added 10 points for the Broncos, who finished with a 42-28 rebound advantage and were 17-for-24 from the free-throw line compared with Central Michigan's 7-for-10.
Niles High School graduate Gerrit Brigitha led the Chippewas with 12 points. He also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
Central Michigan played the game after learning of the death of teammate Brent Edwards, a walk-on who didn't make the trip. Edwards, 21, died Tuesday of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Monday in Michigan.
The team planned to leave Hawaii on Thursday, returning to Michigan on Friday so members could attend Edwards' funeral Saturday in Flushing, Mich.
Edwards played in three games last season with a total of two points and two rebounds.
Santa Clara…………76
Central Michigan….62
Santa Clara: Travis Niesen 4 2-3 10, Jim Howell 2 0-0 4, Kyle Bailey 2 2-4 6, Scott Dougherty 2 1-2 5, Ethan Rohde 2 3-3 9, J.R. Patrick 3 2-2 8, Brandon Rohe 3 0-0 8, Sean Denison 2 1-2 5, Doron Perkins 5 4-4 15, Jordan Legge 2 2-4 6. Totals: 27 17-24 76
CMU: Brandon Voorhees 2 0-0 6, Gerrit Brigitha 5 2-2 12, Tony Bowne 3 1-2 8, T.J. Meerman 2 0-0 4, Kevin Nelson 3 0-0 8, Sefton Barrett 0 0-0 0, Robert Sevalia 1 1-1 3, Dan Quinn 1 0-0 2, Tom Pantlind 1 0-0 3, Joe Carr 1 0-0 3, David Hoskins 3 1-3 7, Adam Dentlinger 2 2-2 6. Totals: 24 7-10 62
Halftime score: Santa Clara 38, CMU 26
3-point shooting: Santa Clara 5 (Rohe 2, Rohde 2, Perkins), CMU 7 (Voorhees 2, Nelson 2, Bowne, Pantlind, Carr). Team fouls (fouled out): Santa Clara 16 (none), CMU 24 (none). Team records: Santa Clara 1-2, CMU 0-3