Green’s 21, Thames’ game-winner lead Saint Louis past Santa Clara, 71-70

Saint Louis Edges Out Santa Clara in Thrilling Acrisure Invitational Matchup

PALM DESERT, Calif. — The Saint Louis Billikens secured a nail-biting victory over Santa Clara with a final score of 71-70 in a highly anticipated matchup at the Acrisure Invitational. Trey Green led the charge for Saint Louis with an impressive 21 points, while Kellen Thames sealed the win with a game-winning layup just eight seconds before the final buzzer.

Green showcased his scoring prowess by going 7 of 14 from the field, including 6 of 13 from beyond the arc. Dion Brown contributed 13 points for the Billikens, shooting 5 of 9 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line, in addition to five rebounds and three steals. Thames made a perfect 5 of 5 from the floor to finish with 11 points, extending Saint Louis’ winning streak to six games.

On the opposing side, the Santa Clara Broncos were led by Elijah Mahi, who notched 18 points and seven rebounds. Allen Graves added 13 points and three steals, while Christian Hammond contributed 11 points. Despite their strong efforts, the loss marked the end of Santa Clara’s six-game winning streak.

Green’s 12 first-half points kept Saint Louis within striking distance as they trailed 35-31 at halftime. Brown stepped up in the second half, leading the Billikens with 13 points to help secure the narrow victory. Saint Louis outscored Santa Clara by five points in the final half, cementing their dominance in the closing stages of the game.

This thrilling matchup between Saint Louis and Santa Clara showcased the competitive spirit and skill of both teams, culminating in a dramatic finish that left fans on the edge of their seats. The Billikens’ resilience and clutch performances ultimately propelled them to victory in a game that will be remembered for years to come.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.