SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's basketball got their payback against San Francisco, defeating the Dons 69-62 in the 2023-24 regular-season finale on Saturday evening inside the Leavey Center. The Broncos honored seniors Jalen Benjamin, Francisco Caffaro and Carlos Marshall, Jr. in a pregame ceremony. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams played solid defensively in the opening half with the Broncos holding San Francisco to just 21 points on 27 percent shooting. Santa Clara (19-12, 10-6) scored just 28 of their own in the half, but took a seven-point advantage into the locker room.
• The shots began to fall more frequently on both ends of the court in the second half. The Broncos quickly grabbed a double figure lead Marshall, Jr. and Adama-Alpha Bal combined for a 5-point swing to open the half. The Dons tried to chip away at the deficit, but the closes they would get was six at 47-41 with 10:22 to play before Santa Clara used a 7-0 run to regain control. 
• After San Francisco (22-9, 11-5) cut it back to single digits, the Broncos used yet another run, this time of the 8-1 variety, to take their biggest lead of the night at 64-50 with just over three minutes to play.
• The Broncos led by 10 inside the final minute, and despite a late Dons trey with 10 seconds remaining cut the deficit to six, Santa Clara was able to close things out to pick up thier 19th victory of the year. 

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Marshall Jr.'s had a big night in his final home game, tying the team lead of 16 points, his 20th double-digit scoring game on the season, and pulling down a team-best eight rebounds 
• Christoph Tilly also logged 16 points to go with seven rebounds. 
• Bal also finished in in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds. He also has 20 double-figure scoring efforts on the season. 
• The Broncos shot 43 percent for the night while holding the Dons to just 35 percent. It's the 10th game this season that they held their opponent to under 38 percent, and the second time against San Francisco. 
• Santa Clara pulled down 45 rebounds to the Dons' 36. 
• Santa Clara added another win to the all-time tally, which currently sits 119-116 in favor of the Broncos. 

POSTGAME COMMENTS: 
 

Coach Sendek recaps tonight's senior night victory#StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/UeveFH6eE2

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) March 3, 2024

Chef finished the night with 16 pts and 8 reb as the Broncos take down the Dons. He joined @PassarelliVoice for the postgame show#StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/KAlkhmSK2B

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) March 3, 2024

UP NEXT:

• With the regular season in the books, the Broncos will hit the road for Las Vegas for the WCC Tournament. The Broncos will be the No. 4 seed and will play their first game at 7:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 9th, on ESPN.