FAIRFAX, Va. -- Tournament MVP Kevin Foster scored 24 points and the Santa Clara Broncos used a big second half to hold off George Mason 80-77 on Friday to win the College Basketball Invitational championship.
SCU (26-12) won the best-of-three tournament for its second postseason title in three seasons.
Before the Broncos could celebrate, George Mason's Patrick Holloway missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
SCU's 26 wins are one short of the school record set in 1968-69 (27-2).
"I am really proud of our guys," SCU coach Kerry Keating said. "With Marc (Trasolini) and Kevin as fifth-year seniors we are trying to establish being competitive in tournaments like this in the postseason. It's a process and we are working to build on winning the CIT two years ago and now the CBI this year. We have to stay focused moving forward. I am really excited about our three signees coming in and certainly Nate Kratch, who we redshirted this year and will take Marc's place next year.
"Our five seniors are leaving behind quite a legacy and have set a high standard. I couldn't be happier or prouder of our guys."
Foster, who graduated from SCU last week, said, "I am so glad I could end my five years with a win. We played hard tonight. We didn't play well the other night. We gave up too many rebounds. We have worked very hard since April 2, 2012 to get here. We worked hard and wanted it all year long."
Foster, who leaves as the Bay Area's all-time leading scorer, set a CBI record with 158 points in the tournament. Trasolini added 20, scoring 16 in the second half making his first seven field goals, and Evan Roquemore had 19 hitting four free throws in the final 20 seconds.
George Mason was led by Sherrod Wright, who collected his second straight double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds, Jonathon Arledge added 16 points and Erik Copes grabbed 11 boards.
  • Roquemore broke the school record for single-season assists. He finished the year with 196 assists, topping John Woolery (1993-94, 190).