SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's basketball saw a balanced scoring attack and their best rebounding performance since 2011 as they put an end to their losing skid by taking down Pacific, 79-53, inside the Leavey Center. Eight Broncos finished with at least five points in the win, led by a career-best 17 points from Jake Ensminger. 

The Broncos finished the night with 56 rebounds, 19 of which coming on the offensive end. It is Santa Clara's highest rebounding total since tallying 56 against UC Merced on Nov. 11, 2011, and their most against a conference opponent since grabbing 58 against LMU on March 6, 1989.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Santa Clara (16-10, 7-4) jumped out to an early lead and grabbed control of the contest after a 19-5 run to take a 17-point advantage with just under nine minutes to play in the opening half. The Broncos led by as much as 18 in the half and dominated the boards with 29 rebounds against just eight for the Tigers, with 12 of those off the offensive glass. 
• Santa Clara led 46-31 at the half, however Pacific (6-21, 0-12) scored the first six points of the second half to cut the deficit to single digits at 46-37. Tyeree Bryan knocked down a triple to put an end to the threat and sparked a 14-4 run to grab control for good.
• The Broncos led by as much 28 down the stretch and scored 12 unanswered over the final 5:30 of action before a couple of late Tiger free throws. 

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• Ensminger had an all-around terrific outing in his second-consecutive start of the season. In addition to his career-high point total, the Ulm, Germany native grabbed 10 rebounds and tied his career-high of six assists, giving him his second straight game with a double-double. 
• Johnny O'Neil also tallied a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in addition to five assists. It is his team-best third on the season and eighth of his career.
• This is the first time two Broncos posted double-doubles since Brandin Podziemski and Camaron Tongue marked achieved the feat against Pepperdine last season on Feb. 23, 2023.  
• Christian Hammond made his first collegiate start and recorded five points and six rebounds. 
• Bryan, Tongue and Francisco Caffaro each finished the evening with 10 points apiece. Tongue was also just one rebound shy of a double-double of his own. 
• Six total players tallied six rebounds or more. 
• Five Broncos scored in double figures for the sixth time this season. 
• The Bronco Defense held Pacific to just 32.2 percent shooting (19-of-59). It is the ninth time Santa Clara has held an opponent under 38 percent this season. 
• Santa Clara finished the game shooting 39.4 percent and just 22.2 percent from 3-point range (6-of-27), however they notched 21 points from the free throw line on 75 percent shooting. 

 
POSTGAME COMMENTS: 
  NEXT UP: Santa Clara heads to the Jenny Craig Pavilion to take on the Toreros of San Diego this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PT.