March 2, 2002

Box Score

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Adam Caporn scored 15 points and Chase Poole added 14 as Saint Mary's beat Santa Clara 72-67 in overtime Saturday in the opening round of the West Coast Conference tournament.

Santa Clara's Justin Holbrook hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer, but sixth-seeded Saint Mary's (9-19) upset the Broncos by making 4-of-5 shots and 8-of-12 free throws in overtime.

The Gaels will face WCC co-champion and No. 1 seed Pepperdine in a semifinal on Sunday. No. 7 Gonzaga, who drew the second seed as co-champion, faces San Diego in the other semifinal.

Caporn started the OT with a 3-pointer, and after a free throw, Poole added a 3-point play for a 62-55 Gael lead with 2:39 left.

Third-seeded Santa Clara (13-15) pulled within three points twice in overtime, but could get no closer.

Caporn made all five of his shots, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range. The Gaels shot just 36.8 percent from the field, including 6-of-27 on 3-pointers.

Saint Mary's overcame an 8-point deficit with 2:24 left in regulation to take a 53-52 lead on Teohn Conner's 3-pointer with just more than a minute remaining.

After two free throws, including one by Conner with 3.1 seconds left for a 55-52 lead, Holbrook hit the tying three.

Holbrook had 16 points and Kyle Bailey scored 13 for the Broncos, who shot 32.8 percent from the field. Santa Clara made just 2-of-9 shots in overtime.