PALM DESERT, Calif. – Santa Clara men's basketball used a monster 24-3 second half run to pick up an impressive victory in the opening game of the 2024 Acrisure Invitational. The Broncos took down TCU in a 69-52 rout behind one of their most balanced performances of the young season. SCU held the Horned Frogs to just 34.9 percent shooting and allowed just one trey on 17 chances (5.9 percent) en route to the victory.
The Broncos will take on the winner of Washington and Colorado State in the Acrisure Invitational Championship tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. PT. The game will air live on truTV and Max.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Santa Clara (3-4) led by as much as 13 in the opening half, taking a 34-21 advantage with 3:09 to play after Kosy Akametu scored inside the paint on consecutive possessions.
- TCU finished the half on a 6-0 run to make it a 34-27 affair in favor of the Broncos at the break.
- Carlos Stewart Jr. (14) and Elijah Mahi (11) combined for 25 of SCU's 34 points in the opening 20 minutes.
- TCU (4-2) took their first lead of the game on a triple by Frankie Collins with 15:46 to play in the second half, however their lead wouldn't last long.
- Trailing 41-40 with 13:26 remaining, Santa Clara then completely took the game over, scoring 10 unanswered before the Horned Frogs finally stopped the spree by going 1-for-2 at the free throw line. SCU promptly responded with Adama-Alpha Bal knocking down a triple to kick start yet another run (14-2). When the dust settled, the Broncos led by 20 and never looked back.
- Santa Clara held TCU to just 33.3 percent shooting in the second half and completely shut down the perimeter, allowing just 1-of-10 from 3-point range.
NOTABLE NUMBERS:
- Stewart Jr. led the way for the Broncos with a sensational 8-for-9 mark from the floor (2-for-3 from 3-point range) for a game and season-high 18 points. The Baton Rouge native also came away with a pair of steals and dished out three assists.
- Mahi finished with 13 points and five rebounds while Camaron Tongue scored nine second half points to finish with 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
- Mahi tallied his fifth double-figure scoring effort of the season while Stewart's output was his third on the year (33rd career). Tongue's tally was his second-highest of the season.
- Jake Ensminger played an outstanding defensive game, finishing with a career high-tying 11 rebounds to go with a season-best five assists.
- Tyeree Bryan had a career-high three steals.
- Adama-Alpha Bal just missed out on his sixth double figure scoring outing, knocking down three treys for nine points. He also was credited with a career-best two blocks.
- Santa Clara out-rebounded the Horned Frogs 49-38 and dished out 19 assists against just five for TCU.
- SCU improved to 3-0 all-time against TCU.
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
