CBI Game Recap: Santa Clara 86, Purdue 83

February 16, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Santa Clara Broncos guard Brandon Clark (3) controls the ball against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half at Leavey Center. The Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 73-62. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Dynamic scorer Kevin Foster was phenomenal in Santa Clara’s mini upset over the Purdue Boilermakers in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitation on Monday afternoon. The senior guard put up 34 points on 11 of 24 shooting to ignite the Broncos offense. On top of his scoring efforts, Foster had 8 assists in the win.

Reserve guard Brandon Clark hit two clutch free throws with 8.6 seconds left to help extend the lead to three points and in turn win the game for the Broncos.  Clark was key off the bench with 9 points, 2 steals, and 3 assists. This performance in West Lafayette was  for him, considering it was close to home. Clark grew up in East Chicago, Indiana, which is about an hour and half drive from West Lafayette. To play at such a high level, in a game that was played close to home was certainly a special moment for him.

Two other Bronco players, Marc Trasolini and Raymond Cowels III, scored double figures in tonight’s contest. Trasolini scored 10, and Cowels III scored 13 to add to Kevin Foster’s 34. Niyi Harrison came off the bench and contributed 20 quality minutes. He led Santa Clara on the glass with 11 rebounds, and scored 5 points.

On the Purdue side of things, the Boilermakers were led by freshman guard Ronnie Johnson. Johnson scored 27 points, and had 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 rebounds in the losing effort. Terone Johnson added 22 points as well.

Santa Clara will take on Wright State on Wednesday at the Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton Ohio in a semifinal game. The game will be at 9PM eastern time.