Breakout day: Jackson lifts Gaels with 18
Forward Garrett Jackson, who had scored all of five points combined in St. Mary’s previous six games, helped propel the Gaels to a 73-60 victory over Santa Clara in a WCC opener at McKeon Pavilion on Saturday.
A 6-foot-7 senior who spent his first two college seasons at USC, Jackson poured in a career-high 18 points as the Gaels (8-3) took control of the game in the second half.
Jackson had gone scoreless in five of those past six games, but he kept himself prepared.
“Even when personal things aren’t necessarily going the way you envision,” Jackson said, “I’m still excited to come to practice, be around the guys and do whatever I can to help the team win.”
His previous career high had been 16. He surpassed that in emphatic fashion with a steal and breakaway slam that gave the Gaels their biggest lead of the game, 64-45, with 6:50 remaining.
Jackson also contributed on defense. He and fellow forward Desmond Simmons spent much of the afternoon containing Santa Clara guard Jared Brownridge.
A sophomore who averages 16 points per game, Brownridge managed a mere seven on 2-for-12 shooting.
Said Jackson: “I was really excited for the opportunity” to guard Brownridge.
Brandon Clark had a game-high 24 points for Santa Clara (5-7), and his scoop shot two minutes into the second half gave the Broncos a 35-34 edge.
It would be their last lead of the afternoon.
Soon thereafter, the Gaels went on a 13-2 run that featured a threepoint play by Jackson and was capped by Kerry Carter’s layup to make it 51-39 with just less than 12 minutes remaining.
St. Mary’s maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
One stat that pained Santa Clara head coach Kerry Keating: The Broncos committed 15 turnovers. They entered Saturday averaging 10.4 per game.
The Broncos played only two upperclassmen (seniors Denzel Johnson and Clark) and don’t have much height.
“This team is limited enough as it is with all the deficiencies,” Keating said. “We have to make sure we have the ball. Turning it over against a team that’s not trapping you or really pressuring you, that’s discouraging.”
On the other hand, the Gaels took heart in their second-half performance, particularly the production from Jackson.
Carter was asked how good St. Mary’s can be when Jackson plays that well.
“I don’t know how high the ceiling is,” Carter said, “but it’s pretty high with Garrett playing like that.”