LAS VEGAS -- After two straight losses, Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew was hoping something would spark his Commodores.Turns out the Thanksgiving loss to Butler in the Continental Las Vegas Invitational semifinals established a toughness and resiliency into his players.Luke Kornet had 18 points and six rebounds to lead Vanderbilt, which held off feisty Santa Clara in a 76-66 win on Friday night at the Orleans Arena.We had some adversity on this trip, and I think we played a lot harder out here, and (were) a lot tougher, Drew said. Butler is a team that makes you play tough, so I think that game made us a lot tougher for tonights game. Hopefully that toughness will continue into our next.Riley LaChance added 17 points, Matthew Fisher-Davis had 13 and Jeff Roberson added 12 for Vanderbilt (3-3).Jared Brownridge led Santa Clara with 36 points. It was the seniors ninth career game with 30 or more points.The Commodores outmuscled Santa Clara (3-4) in the paint, finishing with a 32-21 rebounding edge. Vanderbilt also got better contribution from its bench, as its reserves outscored Santa Claras, 10-4.Vanderbilt shot 14 of 26 from the field in the first half to build a 41-23 lead at halftime. The Commodores hot perimeter shooting coupled with Santa Claras stagnant offense that produced 10-of-24 shooting from the floor in the first 20 minutes.In the first half, early on, we certainly were in a zone hitting our shots, Kornet said. Defensively, we tried to keep them of the 3-point line as much as we can and make shots hard for them.But the Broncos wouldnt go away, opening the second half on a 17-3 run to cut the 18-point deficit down to 44-40 with 13 minutes left in the game. Led by Brownridges 10 points during the run, the Broncos feisty defense frustrated the Commodores to just 1-of-10 shooting during that stretch.Santa Clara got as close as 46-44 with 10:21 left, but the Commodores regained their touch and used a 13-3 run to distance themselves. The closed the game hitting nine of their last 12 shots from the floor.BIG PICTURESanta Clara: After playing four games in seven days, including Thanksgiving night against No. 8 Arizona, the Broncos return to Northern California and will get a five-day reprieve before their next game. Santa Clara will travel home Saturday and take the weekend off before getting back to practice on Monday.Vanderbilt: While the Commodores may still be getting used to first-year coach Bryce Drews system, they warmed up Saturday night with their best performance from long range. Vandys 15 3s topped its previous game-high of 10, against Norfolk State on Nov. 18. The Commodores had 10 at halftime.KEY MOMENTAfter the Broncos closed to 46-44, Roberson buried a pair of 3-pointers during an 11-3 spurt to spark Vanderbilt.CAREER NUMBERSIn his first career start, Willis eight assists were a career high, as was his 32 minutes and four 3-point attempts. The freshmans four rebounds tied his previous career high, set against Norfolk State.ON THE RIGHT TRACKBrownridge continues to build on his career scoring total which is second on Santa Claras all-time list. The preseason all-West Coast Conference selection moved from fifth to second all-time in the first two games of the season, and currently has 1,861 points through the teams first seven games. Nevertheless, the senior is well behind all-time leader Kevin Foster, who scored 2,423 from 2008-13.UP NEXTSanta Clara: The Broncos are off until next Wednesday when theyll host fellow California mid-major UC Irvine.Vanderbilt: The Commodores return home to host Tennessee State on Tuesday in what will be their first game back in Nashville since losing to Bucknell there on Nov. 21.---This story has been corrected to fix the spelling throughout of the last name of Luke Kornet. Bryan Little Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Cheap Jets Jerseys For Sale . 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Richie McCaw was in unchartered territory on Tuesday.The man regarded as one of rugbys greatest ever players -- if not the greatest -- a winner of two Rugby World Cups, seemingly endless Bledisloe triumphs and a handful of Super Rugby titles, was in unfamiliar surroundings.McCaw, in Sydney ahead of the premiere of the documentary Chasing Great, which charts his journey from talented rugby teenager to global superstar, experienced a foreign feeling: Australian admiration.Oh, yeah I probably am to be honest, when asked whether he was feeling the local love.I think youre right, a lot of the times you come over here [Australia], its leading up to the game on Saturday which has its, I guess, different feel about it.Given the fact this is in fact a Bledisloe Cup week, McCaw may have expected a more frosty or at least banter-heavy crowd at the Star Casino. But for the large show of corporates on hand, of which there was more than just a smattering of Kiwis, they were glued to his every word spliced between clips of a film which goes deep within the Test greats mind and the inner sanctum of the All Blacks.From his humble beginnings as an Otago schoolboy, the rapid ascension to the All Blacks and promotion to captain, the heartache of the shock quarterfinal loss to France in 2007 and then the ultimate double redemption of two consecutive World Cup triumphs, Chasing Great travels the highs and lows of McCaws astonishing career.And given he was there for the first eight victories of the current All Blacks record-equalling run, he will be as much a part of the new mark should New Zealand defeat Australia on Saturday to notch an 18th straight win.I think they have got better, theres no doubt, McCaw said when asked about how the All Blacks had performed since his retirement.Well Steve Hansen for a start was going to set the tone that that [a drop-off in form] wasnt acceptable if we did. But if you look at the guys that are still there, you know like Kieran Read whos captain, hes played 90-something Tests now; Owen Frranks has played about that as well; so theres a lot of experience there.dddddddddddd.So having that as an excuse, you know I havent been too close to them, but just listening to the way they talk, theyve pretty much eliminated that as an excuse to drive them. And I think from my point of view and I think the same for the guys that are left, if they had dipped well that probably shows that we havent left it in the right shape that it should be.That was a big thing we talked about over the last four years, its got to be able to be whoever fills that jersey, whether youve been around for a while or not, you make sure its better. And I think thats what happened, which I guess from my point of view sitting back with a bit of pride, you know that the guys have got that drive to be better which is awesome.Chasing Great is in cinemas across Australia this weekend while McCaw will no doubt be looking forward to a spell away from the publicity trail.He will return to flying gliders and helicopters in New Zealands South Island, but given his amazing career and New Zealands rugby-mad public, he will always retain celebrity status.Asked to answer one final question on Tuesday, how he defined greatness -- an appropriate query given the films title -- McCaw responded: I think the one thing is: be consistent. Theres players that youd say had the most talent, could do the most special things; but they only did it for a small amount of time.I think people that can perform at a level thats right up there for a long period of time; that takes a lot of energy and effort. And thats what I think is a good criteria if youre going to talk about something like that.McCaws greatness few would dare question and now that we have his definition on that topic -- prolonged consistency -- a win on Saturday for the All Blacks team he left in such great shape will ensure they too ascend to the same category. NFL Jerseys From China Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Store ' ' '