SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara men's basketball (9-3) will close out nonconference play on Saturday against Loyola (3-9) at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the link above. Fans unable to attend can catch the action live on Baller TV with Thomas Dunn and Rocco Miller on the call, or listen to Anthony Passarelli and Henry Caruso on the audio only stream through Sidearm Sports (link above).
THE OPPONENT
Loyola is off to a 3-9 start to the season and are coming off an 85-71 loss to fellow WCC school San Francisco. Led by fifth-year head coach Drew Valentine, the Ramblers average 68.5 points per game while giving up 76.7 percent defensively. Senior forward Xavier Amos has been a bright spot over the last two games after missing the team’s first 10 contests. The Wisconsin transfer averaged 17.5 points and 5.0 rebounds against Chicago State and USF.
SERIES HISTORY VS. LOYOLA
The Broncos and Ramblers have squared off five times in the programs’ history, but are meeting for the first time since Dec. 15, 1967, which was also SCU’s first win over the series. The 58-year gap between meetings is the 11th longest between NCAA D1 teams this playing against each other this season. It is actually just the second-longest for Santa Clara this season with their 63-year gap between playing Xavier (1962 to 2025) ranking as the sixth-longest of the year.
A FAMILIAR VENUE
Santa Clara has a unique connection to Santa Cruz, and more specifically, Kaiser Permanente Arena. The Broncos relocated to Santa Cruz for around a month during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21, and played a total of three games at Kaiser Permanente Arena during their stay. SCU was 2-1 in those games, defeating Cal State Bakersfield (53-47) and Fresno Pacific (88-65) before falling to Colorado State (57-70).
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos came out on top of a defensive slugfest against North Texas, coming away with a 63-60 victory to improve to 9-3. SCU trailed at the half for just the second time this season, but erased an eight-point deficit and eventually led by as much as nine themselves with four minutes to play. North Texas rallied late with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 60-60 before Brenton Knapper scored what would prove to be the game-winner with less than 40 seconds remaining. Elijah Mahi scored 17 to lead the field while Bukky Oboye turned in 10 points for the second-straight game.
GOING FOR TEN
Santa Clara is looking to pick up their 10th win in nonconference play ahead of the start of WCC action. It would be the first time SCU has won 10 or more such games since 2022-23 when the Broncos were 12-3. In total, it would be the fourth time that Santa Clara has won 10 or more nonconference games
(excluding postseason) under Sendek - 2022-23 (12), 2021-22 (10) and 2019-20 (13).
HAMMOND MAKING NOISE
Christian Hammond has established himself as one of the top players in the WCC since assuming a full-time starting role after redshirting last season. The Denver native ranks fourth in the WCC in scoring at 16.6 ppg, has scored 10 or more in all but one game, and has four 20-point outings. He scored a career-high 27 points against Nevada (11-17 FG) and also has 20-point outings against Minnesota (20), New Mexico (22) and Arizona State (22).
HAMMOND INCLUDED ON LOU HENSON AWARD WATCH LIST
Christian Hammond is one of 50 players that was listed on the initial Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List. He is also one of just two WCC players on the list (Saint Marys’ Paulius Murauskas). The award is handed out annually to the top mid-major player in the nation.
THREE STRAIGHT WITH 20 OR MORE
Christian Hammond had a streak where he scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games - Minnesota (20), New Mexico (22) and Arizona State (22). It is first time a Bronco has done so since Brandin Podziemski in 2022-23.
MAHI OFF TO A BIG START
Preseason All-WCC pick Elijah Mahi has lived up to the billing in his senior campaign. The Toronto native ranks second on the team and 12th in the WCC in scoring (13.8). He has logged double figure scoring in all but two games and has done so in six-straight games. His season high was 19 against McNeese, and he also a pair of 18-point nights against Xavier and Saint Louis. He is coming off a 17-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist night against North Texas.
Over the last five games, Mahi is averaging 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals, and has scored at least 13 points in each outing.
CLEANING UP THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Santa Clara continues to clean up the offensive glass better than anyone else in the WCC. The Broncos lead the conference and are eighth nationally in offensive rebounding at 14.9 per game.
