SANTA CLARA, Calif.  – USF spotted Santa Clara a 13-2 lead out of the gates but roared back to defeat the Broncos, 74-61 Thursday night at the Leavey Center.
 
The win improves USF's record to 10-9 overall and 4-5 in the West Coast Conference while Santa Clara falls to 7-14 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
 
Devin Watson scored a game high 22 points, 17 of which came in the second half, Uche Ofoegbu finished with a career high 21 and Tim Derksen added 19 to help the Dons snap a three-game losing streak. The trio accounted for 63 of the Dons 74 points on the night.
 
Matt McCarthy and Dont'e Reynolds each pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
 
Santa Clara was paced by Jared Brownridge, who finished with 20 points. Brownridge scored the Broncos first 15 points of the game but made just two of his last eight shots from the floor and scored just five second points, as the Dons outscored the Broncos, 42-26 after intermission.
 
The Dons shot 42.9 percent from the floor and held the Broncos to just 39.3 shooting on the night. Santa Clara connected on four of its first eight three-point tries but made just 4-of-16 down the stretch. The Dons also took advantage of a good night at the line, converting 19-of-24 of their free throws.
 
Santa Clara led by as many as many as 15 points at 26-11 with 10:45 remaining in the first half but then proceeded to miss 12 of its next 13 shots from the floor. USF took advantage of the Broncos icy spell with a 13-2 run, which cut the Bronco lead to 28-24. Ofoegbu scored six of his 12 first half points during the run.
 
The Dons tied the game at 30-30 on a Dont'e Reynolds free throw and took its first lead of the first half when Watson connected on a banker to give USF a 32-31 lead, capping a 21-5 run. Santa Clara scored the final four points of the half to take a 35-32 lead at intermission.
 
Santa Clara was holding a 49-44 lead with 13:05 left in the game when the Dons caught fire and went on a 21-5 run to open a 65-54 advantage with 3:26 remaining.  The Broncos could get no closer than nine points down the stretch.
 
"We weathered the storm early and got a little better in transition," said head coach Rex Walters. "We fought through some adversity and got a nice road win."
 
Walters was especially pleased with the defensive play of Ofoegbu, Derksen and Ronnie Boyce on Brownridge, who was held to five points after intermission.
 
"All three of our guards were really good defensively," said Walters. "It was a huge key to the game."
 
The win comes on the heels of a pair of home losses last week and snaps a three-game losing streak.
 
"Our guys have a lot of character and there is still room for growth."
 
USF will have the weekend off and return to action next Thursday night when the Dons face the Portland Pilots in the first game of the Pacific Northwest road trip.