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. Authentic Custom Islanders Jersey . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Islanders Jerseys China . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. http://www.customislandersjersey.com/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Custom Islanders Jersey China . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Wholesale Custom Islanders Shirts .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. OXFORD, Ohio -- Logan McLane and Michael Weathers scored 15 points apiece and Miami (Ohio) held off an IUPUI rally in the second half Saturday for a 71-68 win.Miami (5-5) led by as much as 21 but had to scramble to pull out the win after IUPUI tied the game at 68-all with a 3-pointer from Kellon Thomas with 29 seconds left. Rod Mills Jr. put Miami back on top with a jumper at the other end, then McLane hit 1 of 2 from the line with three seconds left to pad it.IUPUIs Matt OLeary misseed a 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer.ddddddddddddMarcus Weathers got 13 points to make it his fourth straight game in double figures and Mills finished with 11 for Miami.Trailing 59-38 in the second half, IUPUI (3-7) rallied with a 23-3 run that included 3-pointers from T.J. Henderson, Thomas and Darrell Combs.D.J. McCall led the Jaguars with 14 points. ' ' '