MORAGA, Calif. - Santa Clara men’s basketball (17-9, 9-4) hits the road Tuesday for a primetime rivalry matchup with West Coast Conference leader Saint Mary’s (21-4, 11-1) on ESPN2. The game is slated for an 8 p.m. tip. Roxy Bernstein and Dan Dickau will have the call for ESPN, while fans can tune in to the audio only call from Anthony Passarelli and Henry Caruso live on Sidearm Streaming. Both links can be accessed above.
Last time out, the Broncos cruised to a dominating 23 point victory over San Diego led by a career night from junior guard Elijah Mahi. He led all scorers with a career high 28 points on 9-11 shooting, adding a career best seven assists. Adama-Alpha Bal added 15 points for his team leading 20th game of the season in double figures, and Bukky Oboye had a career night posting nine points, six rebounds, four blocks, and one assist, all career bests. The 23 point victory was the third straight 20 point victory for the Broncos, averaging a 34.7 margin of victory over that stretch.
The Broncos come into the matchup with the Gaels as one of four teams in the WCC to have four or more players averaging double figures in scoring (Gonzaga, Washington State, LMU). Bal leads the way with 13.7 ppg (11th in WCC). Junior center Christoph Tilly is second on the team with 12.9 ppg (17th in WCC), Stewart Jr. is third with 12.0 ppg (25th in WCC), and Elijah Mahi rounds out the pack with 11.3 ppg (28th in WCC). The Broncos also excel in bench production, ranking third in the WCC (and 34th nationally) with 28.58 bench points per game.
Santa Clara has also proven to be among the top rebounding teams in the league, ranking third in the WCC with 38.08 total rebounds per outing (62nd nationally). Sophomore forward Jake Ensminger leads the way with 5.5 rebounds per game (18th in WCC), while O’Neil is not far behind with 5.4 rpg (20th win WCC).
Santa Clara leads the WCC and is 19th nationally in 3-pointers per game (10.3). They have hit 10 or more treys in 17 games and are 14-3 when doing so. The Broncos also lead the WCC in 3-pointers per game in league play with 11.0 per outing. Adama-Alpha Bal (2.4) and Carlos Stewart Jr. (2.0) rank second and seventh, respectively individually in the league in 3s per game while Tyeree Bryan (1.8) and Johnny O’Neil (1.5) also rank inside the top 20.
Santa Clara ranks second in the WCC with 80.9 points per game behind Gonzaga (87.2). That mark ranks 36th nationally in NCAA D1. The Broncos have fared even better in league play with an average of 82.4 ppg, also second behind Gonzaga’s 87.3 ppg average.
Saint Mary’s continues to hold on to the top spot in the WCC standings with an 11-1 mark in league play and sit at 21-4 overall. Led by Randy Bennett in his 24th season, the Gaels have continued to play outstanding defense and have the nation’s fifth-best scoring defense at 60.5 points allowed. They are also plus-10 on the boards (4th nationally) and boast the eighth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country (1.67). Augustus Marciulionis continues to lead the Gaels in scoring at 13.8 per night while the duo of Paulius Murauskas and Mitchell Saxen each average north of 8.0 rebounds per game. Saxon has been particularly good on the offensive glass where he ranks second nationally with 4.2 boards per game.
For more information, click on the game notes link above.
STREAMING INFO
The game against the Gales will be streamed on ESPN2 and can be listened to on Sidearm Streaming here.
Broncos At A Glance…
WCC Player of the Week:
Elijah Mahi was named the WCC’s Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 10 after an outstanding two-game stand against Portland and San Diego where he averaged 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 blocks. The Toronto native tallied the first double-double of his career at Portland with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and then followed up with a career-high 28 points and seven assists to go with six rebounds against San Diego. Mahi shot 66.7 percent from the field and 80 percent from 3-point range over the two games.
Taking Care of Business:
Santa Clara has taken care of business over the last three games against Pacific, Portland and San Diego. The Broncos averaged 91.0 points per game and allowed just 56.3 points defensively, shot 54.8 percent offensively and allowed just 29.8 percent on the other end. They also shot 46.3 percent from 3-point range while allowing just 26.3 percent defensively. SCU has also dominated the boards with 41.3 per game while allowing just 31.0.
The Broncos outscored their opponents 273-169 - a 34.7 point margin of victory.
On Pace for History:
Santa Clara is on pace to break the current school record of 3-point field goals of 318 set in 2016-17 (Herb Sendek’s first season). The Broncos currently have 268 with at least six games remaining.
1. 318 2016-17
2. 303 2012-13
3. 275 2022-23
4. 273 2010-11
5. 271 2023-24
6. 268 2024-25
Defensive Clinic:
Santa Clara held Pacific to just 49 points on a season-low 19 field goals. That is the fewest points SCU has allowed since holding Mississippi Valley State to just 39 points on Nov. 20, 2023. It was the fewest they have allowed against a WCC opponent since Jan. 4, 2018 (49 at LMU).
Shooting Above 50 Percent:
Santa Clara has shot 50 percent or better in 11 games this season and are 9-2 in such games.
UC Riverside: 58.3%- W
Kennesaw State: 50.0%- W
South Dakota: 52.7%- W
Pepperdine: 50.7%- W
at USF: 50.8%- L
USF: 51.7- W
at Gonzaga: 53.7%- W
at Oregon State: 51.0%- L
Pacific: 55.4%- W
at Portland: 51.5%- W
San Diego: 58.2%- W
Scoring At A Historic Rate:
Santa Clara has tallied seven games in which they have scored 90 points or more. That is already tied for the third most in program history.
No. of games with 90+ points:
10 - 1969-70
9- 2024-25
8 - 1966-67, 1967-68, 1978-79
7 - 1972-73, 1979-80
In the Net:
The Broncos rank 54th in the latest NET Rankings - one of five WCC programs that rank inside the top 70: Gonzaga (14), Saint Mary’s (21), SCU (54), USF (60), and Oregon State (66).
Three-Point Shooting:
Santa Clara leads the WCC and is 19th nationally in 3-pointers per game (10.3). They rank second in the league in 3-point percentage (36.5).
The Broncos have hit 10 or more treys in 17 games - the most in program history - and are 14-3
when doing so. SCU has also set the program record with three games of 15 or more with 15 against Pepperdine, 16 at Portland, and a season-high 18 on the road against Gonzaga.
Santa Clara has fared even better in league play where they lead the conference in both 3-point
percentage (38.4) and per game (11.0). Adama-Alpha Bal is tied for the conference lead with 2.5 treys per game while Carlos Stewart Jr. (2.2), Johnny O’Neil (1.9) and Tyeree Bryan (1.7) all rank inside the top-12.
3-Point Defense:
Not only do the Broncos fare well offensively from beyond the arc, they have also played sound defense around the perimeter, especially in conference play. Santa Clara ranks second in the WCC in 3-point defense, allowing league opponents to shoot just 28.4 percent. The Broncos have held five opponents under 25 percent from beyond the arc.
at San Diego 5-22 .227
Oregon State 6-25 .240
USF 6-32 .188
at LMU 3-18 .167
at Portland 7-32 .219
Balanced Scoring:
Santa Clara currently has four players in double figures. Bal leads the way with 13.7 ppg (11th in WCC). Junior center Christoph Tilly is second on the team with 12.9 ppg (17th in WCC), Stewart Jr. is third with 12.0 ppg (25th in WCC), and Elijah Mahi rounds out the pack with 11.3 ppg (28th in WCC).
Spreading the Love:
Santa Clara has had a different leading scorer in each of the last seven games.
1/18 at Gonzaga Bryan (35) 2/1 Pacific Tilly (19)
1/23 Washington State O’Neil (17) 2/6 at Portland Tongue (19)
1/25 at Oregon State Bal (13) 2/8 San Diego Mahi (28)
1/29 Saint Mary’s Stewart (24)
On the Boards:
The Broncos rank third in the WCC with 38.08 total rebounds per outing (62nd nationally). Sophomore forward Jake Ensminger leads the way with 5.5 rebounds per game (18th in WCC), while O’Neil is not far behind with 5.4 rpg (20th win WCC). Santa Clara has won the rebound battle in 18 of their 26 games, and are 15-3 when doing so.
High Scoring Broncos:
Santa Clara ranks second in the WCC with 80.9 points per game behind Gonzaga (87.2). That mark ranks 36th nationally in NCAA D1.
The Broncos have fared even better in league play with an average of 82.4 ppg, also second behind Gonzaga’s 87.3 ppg average.
On the Hunt For 10:
Santa Clara is one win shy of making it four-straight years in which they have won 10 or more games in conference play. That streak would be the longest in program history.
A Night to Remember:
Santa Clara’s win over No. 16 Gonzaga will go down as one of the defining games of the Herb Sendek Era. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
- most points (103) ever scored by an opponent inside the Kennel
- 18 3-pointers are the second-most SCU has ever tallied in a game and the most Gonzaga has ever given up in Spokane
- first road win over a ranked opponent since Dec. 4, 1993.
- first time SCU has defeated Gonzaga in consecutive seasons since 1999-00 and 2000-01.
- second win ever over a ranked Gonzaga team (last season was the first)
Player of the Week:
Tyeree Bryan’s sensational 35-point performance against the Bulldogs earned him WCC Co-Player of the Week honors - the first weekly award of the season for a Bronco and the first since Carlos Marshall, Jr. earned POTW honors following the opening week of play in 2023-24.
Bryan was also named of the five honorees for the Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week Award. He is the first Bronco to ever be honored since the award’s inception in 2009-10.
Against Top-25 Programs:
Santa Clara’s win over No. 16 Gonzaga was their third win over a top 25 team in the AP Poll over the last four seasons. Prior to that, you had to go all the way back to Nov. 19, 2004 to find SCU’s last ranked win.
Feb. 8, 2022 Santa Clara 77, (22) Saint Mary’s 72
Jan. 11, 2024 Santa Clara 77, (21) Gonzaga 76
Jan. 18, 2025 Santa Clara 103, (16) Gonzaga 99
The win in Spokane was Santa Clara’s first against a ranked team on the road since Dec. 4,1993 when Steve Nash and company took down Jason Kidd and the Cal Golden Bears, 80-67. While historically considered a road game, the game itself took place away from Cal’s usual home base of Harmon Gym (now Haas Pavilion) and was played in nearby Oakland Coliseum. The last time Santa Clara defeated a team in their home gym was Dec. 2, 1972 against BYU in Provo, Utah.
Big Time Ty:
Tyeree Bryan’s 35-point performance is one that will go down as one of the all-time greats in Bronco History. The Orlando native knocked down 7-of-12 from beyond the arc (tied for the third-most in program history) and was 13-of-21 overall (48.1). He also pulled down seven rebounds, dished out four assists and had a pair of steals. Bryan’s 35 points are tied for the second-most ever scored by an opposing player inside the Kennel, and is the most by a Bronco since Brandin Podziemski scored 38 against Pacific Jan. 28, 2023.
Los Joins 1000 Point Club:
After scoring 10 points at Oregon State on Saturday, Carlos Stewart Jr. joined the 1000th point club, becoming just the second current Bronco to achieve that feat (Johnny O’Neil).
Triple Threat:
In Santa Clara’s win over Bradley, Elijah Mahi (23), Christoph Tilly (21) and Carlos Stewart Jr. (20) all topped at least 20 points. It is the first game that SCU has had three players score 20 or more since Dec. 18, 2018 in a double overtime win over USC.
No Off Days:
Santa Clara’s non-conference strength of schedule is currently ranked 44th nationally out of 364 teams. They have the third-toughest non-conference schedule among WCC teams behind Gonzaga (8th) and San Francisco (38th).
Rising up in the Ranks:
Head Coach Herb Sendek got his 570th win of his career Saturday, putting him in a tie for 53rd in the NCAA D1 All Time Wins-Leaders with Steve Fisher.
Bench Production:
Santa Clara ranks third in the WCC (and 34th nationally) with 28.58 bench points per game.
Dishing it Out:
Santa Clara ranks 26th nationally and second in the WCC in assists with an average of 16.8 per game. The Broncos tallied 31 assists against South Dakota, which ranks the third-most in program history, and the most since Feb. 16, 2017 when the Broncos dished out 32 againt Pepperdine.
SCU has dished out at least 20 assists in each of their last three games - Pacific (22), at Portland (25) and San Diego (21).
Johnny O on Milestone Watch:
Senior Johnny O’Neil is closing in on a pair of career milestones. The Miami Shores, Fla. product is 46 field goals shy of 500 and needs just a trio of blocks for 150.
Sustained success:
The Broncos have won 20 or more games in three consecutive seasons and four if you exclude the 2020-21 covid season.
Bal Back:
After flirting with the NBA Draft, Adama-Alpha Bal is back for one more season and looking to build off the success he built as a first team All-WCC performer in year one. Bal has been as advertised, leading the team and ranking 14th in the WCC in scoring (13.6) and is tied for the team lead with three 20-point outings. Bal opened the season 24 points vs. Saint Louis turned in a season-best 27 points against Bradley and most recently had 20 points in the win over South Dakota and Gonzaga.
Familiar Faces:
In addition to Bal, who was a First Team All-WCC selection last year, the Broncos brought back six other key rotation pieces. Among them, All-WCC Honorable Mention last season Christoph Tilly, and All-WCC Freshman Team selection sophomore forward Jake Ensminger. In addition, the Broncos return senior forward Johnny O’Neil, senior guard Tyeree Bryan, junior guard Brenton Knapper, and senior forward Camaron Tongue, all key rotation pieces for the Broncos last season. The Broncos returned four of their five starters and 72.8 percent of their scoring from 2023-24.
Added Experience:
The Broncos also bring back senior guard and former Bronco standout Carlos Stewart Jr. As a sophomore at Santa Clara, Stewart Jr. was a First Team All-WCC selection, avg.15.2 ppg. The Broncos also added West Valley College transfer Elijah Mahi, who joins the Broncos after leading West Valley College to an undefeated 33-0 season in 2023-24, capturing the state championship title, and being named California Player of the Year and winning MVP in the state tournament.
Bayou Boys:
Santa Clara has not one, but two Gatorade Louisiana Basketball Player of Year winners on the roster - Stewart (2020-21) and freshman Allen Graves (2023-24).
Preseason Poll:
The Broncos were picked to finish third in the WCC preseason poll, while Bal and Stewart Jr. were named to the Preseason First Team All-WCC.
Former Bronco Named 2025 All-Star:
Former Bronco Jalen Williams was recently named a 2025 NBA All-Star, becoming just the third Santa Clara product to earn an invite to the prestigious event and joining eight-time selection Steve Nash and two-time pick Ken Sears. Williams was the lone player from the WCC selected to this year’s event.
Pipeline to the Pros:
There are just five NCAA D1 men’s basketball programs that produced top-20 picks in the 2022 and 2023 NBA Drafts: Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Baylor.....and Santa Clara.
The Broncos have produced back-to-back first round selections in the form of Jalen Williams (12th overall to Oklahoma City in 2022) and Brandin Podziemski (19th overall to Golden State in 2023). Additionally, former Bronco forward Keshawn Justice was signed by the Utah Jazz in October 2023 and is currently a member of the Salt Lake Jazz.
After becoming the first Bronco to hear his name called in the NBA Draft since Steve Nash in 1996, Williams more than lived up to his lottery pick hype, finishing runner-up in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors and was named to the 2023 Rising Stars Challenge. He was even better in year two, averaging 19.1 ppg while starting 71 games and was once again voted to the Rising Stars Challenge.
Podziemski was the first WCC player taken off the board in 2023 and also turned in a fantastic rookie season, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors and being named to the Rising Stars Challenge. Podz became the first Golden State rookie since Stephen Curry (2009-10) to tally 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and five or more in a single game, doing so on Dec. 12 against the Phoenix Suns.
Both Williams and Podziemski were also named to the USA Select Team in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
