SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's basketball extended their win streak to three after a big second half pushed the Broncos ahead of LMU for a 65-55 victory inside the Leavey Center on Thursday evening. The Broncos shot 47 percent and held the Lions to 33 percent in the second half en route to the victory. Junior forward Johnny O'Neil scored 15 points to reach 1,000 for his career in the winning effort. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Adama-Alpha Bal and Brenton Knapper both returned from injury after sitting out the last one and two games, respectively. 
• The Broncos struggled to find much rhythm throughout the first half, hitting 42 percent of their shots while allowing 52 percent on the defensive end. LMU (10-17, 3-10) took a 32-28 lead into the locker room. 
• Santa Clara (18-10, 9-4) quickly shook off the first half woes by rattling off a 17-7 run to grab the lead at 45-39 midway through the second half. Knapper knocked down an open trey to give the Broncos the lead and Camaron Tongue and Tyeree Bryan scored on consecutive possessions to cap the scoring spree. 
• After LMU's Alex Merkviladze cut the deficit down to four with 6:34 to play, Santa Clara used one last big run to grab control for good, scoring 13 unanswered to take a commanding 62-45 advantage at the under four timeout. The advantage proved good enough as the Broncos held on for the 10-point victory. 

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• O'Neil, who needed just 11 points to hit his milestone, tied the team-lead of 15 points on a sharp 7-for-9 mark from the field. He came up just one rebound shy of tallying his third-consecutive double-double. 
• Knapper was outstanding in his return to hardwood, tying O'Neil with 15 points and four rebounds of his own. The tally was one shy of his season-high and his third double figure scoring output of the year. 
• Camaron Tongue also finished in double figures with 10 points (5-7 FG) and seven rebounds. 
• Tyeree Bryan had a solid game off the bench with nine points and six rebounds.
• Santa Clara out-rebounded the Lions 42-31 and shot 44 percent for the game while holding the Lions to 42 percent.  
• LMU's Justin Wright led all players with 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting. 

 
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
    UP NEXT: 

• Santa Clara heads to Spokane on Saturday to take on Gonzaga. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.