Ford helps Gaels win third straight
St. Mary’s came out shooting and never let up Friday.
Jordan Ford scored 18 of his 28 points in the first half and St. Mary’s routed New Mexico 85-60 in Los Angeles.
Malik Fitts added 15 points for the Gaels (6-4), who won their third in a row.
“These guys came ready to roll,” St. Mary’s coach Randy Bennett said. “We’re growing up. We’re learning how to put teams away when we have an opportunity to do that.”
Keith McGee scored 12 points and Makuach Maluach added 10 for the Lobos (4-3).
St. Mary’s opened the game with a 22-8 spurt, getting eight points from Ford and six by Fitts. Ford scored the Gaels’ final seven points of the half to put them up 43-29. Idaho State 68, Santa Clara
66: Kelvin Jones scored 14 of his 20 points in the final 10 minutes and the Bengals (4-3) overcame a 14-point, second-half deficit to beat the host Broncos (3-6).
A 26-7 run to start the second half gave Santa Clara a 55-41 lead with 10:26 to go, but Idaho State responded with a 9-0 run to slow the Broncos.
Tahj Eaddy had 17 points to lead Santa Clara. Trey Wertz added 13 points, Keshawn Justice scored 12 and Henrik Jadersten had 10 for the Broncos. TCU 96, USC 61: Alex Robinson scored 15 points to lead six Horned Frogs in double figures as TCU (7-1) beat the Trojans (5-4) in Los Angeles.
Bennie Boatwright scored 14 points and Nick Rakocevic added 13 for USC, which has lost two in a row.