Box Score SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's basketball shook off a sluggish start to put together their best shooting performance of the season on Thursday evening as they erased a 15-0 deficit to take down Pepperdine, 94-71, inside the Leavey Center for their third-straight win. With the victory, the Broncos are now 6-1 in WCC play for the first time since 1994-95.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
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Santa Clara (15-7, 6-1) was scoreless for the first six minutes of action as they watched Pepperdine surge ahead to a 15-0 advantage. Starting 0-for-4 from the field and 0-for-2 from behind the arc, the Broncos couldn't find much success until Bal finally put them on the board with 14:15 on the clock.
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The Broncos continued to battle back and cut the score to 26-24 with five minutes left to go in the first half. Adama-Alpha Bal tied the game at 30 on a jumper just minutes later, and Christoph Tilly laid one in to give SCU their first lead of the night. Carlos Marshall Jr. with a trey on the next possession to put the Broncos up 35-30.
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Santa Clara closed the half on a 12-2 run to take a 40-32 lead into the break. Bal led the way individually, taking responsibility for the Broncos' first eight points and finished the half with 15. The Broncos shot 60 percent and was 4-for-8 from distance in the half.
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The Broncos continued to find their rhythm in the second half. After Pepperdine (9-13, 2-5) cut the deficit to five, Santa Clara quickly regained control and extended their lead to 17 on a Marshall, Jr. triple with 10:51 on the clock.
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Santa Clara continued to keep their foot on the gas, extending their lead to 24 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Tyeree Bryan with 4:24 to play and cruised over the final few minutes for the 23-point victory.
NOTABLE NUMBERS:
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Santa Clara shot a season-high 58.2 percent from the field (32-of-55). It was their eighth game on the year in which they shot 50 percent or better.
- Bal finished with a game-high 23 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting for his team-high seventh 20-point outing on the year.
- Marshall Jr. recorded his 16th double-digit scoring game of the season with 19 points, his highest total over the last nine games.
- Brenton Knapper returned from an injury to the starting lineup and finished the night with seven of his own.
- Johnny O'Neil continued his high level of play with his third-straight double figure scoring effort with 11 points.
- Santa Clara out-rebounded the Waves 36-21 and held them to just 44 percent shooting and 25 percent from beyond the arc.
- SCU knocked 10-of-20 from 3-point range, their seventh game on the year with 10 or more treys.
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The Broncos have now won five-straight over Pepperdine.
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
UP NEXT:
Santa Clara makes the short drive to Moraga on Wednesday, Jan. 31, for an 8:00 p.m. PT tip that will be carried on ESPNU.
