SANTA CLARA, Calif. - After a record-breaking performance at Washington State Saturday, Santa Clara men’s basketball (19-10, 11-5) returns home to Leavey Center for a primetime matchup with Gonzaga (21-8, 12-4) Tuesday on CBS Sports Network. The game is slated for an 8 p.m. tip. Rich Waltz and Dan Dickau will have the call for CBS, 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 broke a program and WCC record, hitting 23 three pointers en route to a 109-79 victory over Washington State. Five Broncos scored in double figures for the eighth time this season as four players hit four or more threes, led by Carlos Stewart Jr., who poured in a game high 22 pts. Elijah Mahi added 19, while Brenton Knapper had a career high 18 pts off the bench, and Johnny O’Neil had his sixth game of the season scoring 15 points or more, tallying 17. The Broncos 109 points are the most scored since the 2017-18 season-opener against La Verne (120). It is the most scored against a conference opponent since Feb. 10, 1979 (113 vs. Saint Mary's), and the most scored on the road since Feb. 11, 1972 against Pepperdine.
The Broncos come into the matchup with the Zags 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 13.1 ppg (15th in WCC). Senior guard Carlos Stewart Jr. is second on the team with 12.4 ppg (19th in WCC), junior center Christoph Tilly is third with 12.3 ppg (22nd in WCC), and Elijah Mahi rounds out the pack with 11.4 ppg (27th in WCC). The Broncos also excel in bench production, ranking second in the WCC (and 29th nationally) with 28.66 bench points per game. They also rank second in the WCC (and 21st nationally) with 16.9 assists per game.
Santa Clara has proven to be among the top rebounding teams in the league, ranking third in the WCC (and 51st nationally) with 38.07 total rebounds per outing. Sophomore forward Jake Ensminger leads the way with 5.7 rebounds per game (17th in WCC), while Johnny O’Neil is not far behind with 5.4 rpg (19th in WCC).
Santa Clara leads the WCC and is seventh nationally in 3-pointers per game (10.7). They have hit 10 or more treys in 19 games and are 16-3 when doing so. The Broncos also lead the WCC in 3-pointers per game in league play with 11.6 per outing. Adama-Alpha Bal (2.3) and Carlos Stewart Jr. (2.0) rank third and sixth, respectively individually in the league in 3s per game while Tyeree Bryan (1.8) and Johnny O’Neil (1.6) also rank inside the top 15.
Santa Clara ranks second in the WCC with 81.1 points per game behind Gonzaga (87.8). That mark ranks 32nd nationally in NCAA D1. The Broncos have fared even better in league play with an average of 82.5 ppg, also second behind Gonzaga’s 87.1 ppg average.
Gonzaga heads into Tuesday evening tied with San Francisco for second in the league standings at 12-4 and are 21-8 overall on the season. The Bulldogs’ offense is playing at an elite level, ranking second nationally in ppg (87.8) and third with a plus-18.3 scoring margin. They are also second nationally in field goal percentage (.500), first in both assists (20.0) and assist/turnover ratio (2.07) and 20th in rebounds per game (39.7). Ryan Nembhard leads the nation in assists (9.7) and has a WCC-best 11 double-doubles while Graham Ike leads the team in both scoring (16.8) and rebounding (7.6).
Gonzaga leads the all-time series 71-33, but the Broncos have been making a push as of late. Santa Clara has won two of the last three against the Zags with a win inside the Leavey Center on Jan. 11, 2024 and a high-scoring thriller earlier this season inside the Kennel on Jan. 18. It is the first time since 1999-00 and 2000-01 that the Broncos have defeated Gonzaga in consecutive seasons.
For more information, click on the game notes link above.
STREAMING INFO
The game will be streamed on CBSSN and can be listened to on Sidearm Streaming here.
Broncos At A Glance…
Four Straight With 10 or More:
Santa Clara’s win over LMU gave the Broncos their 10th in conference play, setting a new program record for consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins (4).
2021-22 10-5
2022-23 11-5
2023-24 10-6
2024-25 11-5
The Broncos are looking to lock up a top four spot in the final WCC standings for the fourth-consecutive year as well, which would be the longest such streak since Dick Davey guided SCU to fourth place or better in eight consecutive seasons (1994-95 through 2001-02).
Fantastic February:
Santa Clara has had an outstanding month with one game remaining before the flip of the calendar. The Broncos are 5-1 in February, averaging 87.0 ppg while allowing just 63.7 points defensively. The team has shot a collective 50.5 percent from the floor and 46.0 percent from 3-point range while averaging 39.7 rebounds and 20.0 assists. Individually, six players have averaged 10.5 ppg or better led by 13.8 from Elijah Mahi, 12.2 for Johnny O’Neil and 12.0 from Carlos Stewart Jr.
In the Net:
The Broncos rank 53rd in the latest NET Rankings - one of five WCC programs that rank inside the top 80: Gonzaga (10), Saint Mary’s (17), SCU (53), USF (60) and Oregon State (78).
Four in Double Figures:
The Broncos come into the matchup with the Zags 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 13.1 ppg (15th in WCC). Senior guard Carlos Stewart Jr. is second on the team with 12.4 ppg (19th in WCC), junior center Christoph Tilly is third with 12.3 ppg (22nd in WCC), and Elijah Mahi rounds out the pack with 11.4 ppg (27th in WCC).
Historically Good in League Play:
With just two conference games remaining, Santa Clara sits at 11-5 against WCC opponents. It is already tied for the most of the Sendek Era (2022-23) and tied for third-most in program history. The Broncos are just one win shy of their most since Dick Davey guided SCU to a regular-season conference title with a 12-2 record in 1994-95.
The Streak Continues:
Santa Clara has clinched a winning season to extend their streak to seven-straight. It is their longest such streak since 1956-57 through 1962-63 (7) and tied for the second-longest in program history behind a 10-year stretch from 1933-34 through 1942-43 (although they played an average of only 19 games per season).
Speaking of Winning:
Santa Clara is in the midst of one of their best stretches in program history. The Broncos have 83 wins in the last four years (this season included), which is the second-most in a four-year span in program history, second only to an 85-win stretch from 1966-67 through 1969-70.
Stretching the streak back to the last six years, the Broncos have won 115 games - tied for the second-most wins in a six year span in program history. The feat is all the more impressive when you factor in that one of those seasons was the Covid-shortened 2020-21 campaign which was limited to just 20 games total and SCU went 12-8.
119 wins from 1967-68 through 1972-73
115 wins from 1964-65 through 1969-70
115 wins from 2019-20 through 2024-25
High Scoring Broncos:
Santa Clara ranks second in the WCC with 81.1 points per game behind Gonzaga (87.1). That mark ranks 32nd nationally in NCAA D1.
The Broncos have fared even better in league play with an average of 82.5 ppg, also second behind Gonzaga’s 87.1 ppg average.
Historically Good on Offense:
Santa Clara’s 81.1 ppg average is currently top-10 in program history and the best of the Herb Sendek Era (since 2016-17).
1. 83.7 (1969-70)
2. 83.1 (1967-68)
83.1 (1978-79)
4. 82.3 (1966-67)
5. 81.3 (1972-73)
6. 81.2 (1979-80)
7. 81.1 (2024-25)
8. 80.7 (1971-72)
9. 80.1 (1965-66)
Three Pt Shooting:
Santa Clara leads the WCC and is 7th nationally in 3-pointers per game (10.7). They also rank 28th nationally at 37.6 percent from beyond the arc.
The Broncos have hit 10 or more treys in 19 games - the most in program history - and are 16-3
when doing so. SCU has also set the program record with four games of 15 or more with 15 against Pepperdine, 16 at Portland, 18 on the road against Gonzaga and, of course, a program-record 23 at Washington State.
Santa Clara has fared even better in league play where they lead the conference in both 3-point
percentage (39.9) and per game (11.6). Adama-Alpha Bal is third in the league with 2.3 treys per game while Carlos Stewart Jr. (2.3), Johnny O’Neil (2.1) and Tyeree Bryan (1.7) all rank inside the top 15.
Dishing it Out:
Santa Clara ranks 21st nationally and second in the WCC in assists with an average of 16.9 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 against Pepperdine.
History From Downtown:
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 311 with at least three games remaining.
1. 318 2016-17
2. 311 2024-25
3. 303 2012-13
4. 275 2022-23
5. 273 2010-11
The Broncos also have a chance of tying the WCC record of 349 3-pointers, set by USF in 2022-23.
90’s or Better:
Santa Clara has tallied 10 games in which they have scored 90 points or more - tied for the most in program history.
No. of games with 90+ points:
10 - 1969-70, 2024-25
8 - 1966-67, 1967-68, 1978-79
Shooting Above 50%:
Santa Clara has shot 50 percent or better in 12 games this season and are 10-2 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
at Washington State 54.2 – W
WCC Players of the Week:
Two Broncos have earned WCC Player of the Week honors this season.
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. He was also named one 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.
Elijah Mahi became the second Bronco to win the award 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.
Second Half Surge:
Santa Clara’s offense has come alive in the second half throughout the year. Here’s the numbers of the first and second halves:
1st Half 2nd Half
FG % 45.4 48.6
3PT % 37.5 38.7
PPG 38.5 41.6
The Broncos have been especially efficient in the second half in two of their biggest wins of the
season. SCU scored 59 points at Gonzaga and 56 points at home against San Francisco. In both of those games, an individual scored 20 or more points with Adama-Alpha Bal dropping 20 at Gonzaga and Carlos Stewart Jr. exploding for 25 points against USF.
Off the Bench:
Santa Clara is averaging 28.7 points from their bench players, which ranks third in the WCC and 29th nationally.
20 Pt Scorers:
Carlos Stewart Jr. leads the team with six 20-point outings while Christoph Tilly, Adama-Alpha Bal and Elijah Mahi are right behind him with four.
3 Pt 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 29.5 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
On the Boards:
Santa Clara has won the rebound battle in 20 of their 29 games, and are 17-3 when doing so. The Broncos are averaging 38.1 boards per game, good for third in the WCC and 51st nationally. SCU has been especially efficient on the defensive glass with an average of 26.6 per game (2nd in WCC) and rank 43rd nationally in rebound margin (+5.2)
BK Spark off the Bench:
Redshirt junior Brenton Knapper has been playing outstanding off the bench, especially as of late. In the last five games, the Ontario, Calif. product is averaging 11.0 ppg on 63.6 percent shooting, including a 55.6 percent mark from 3-point range, and has a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio. He has scored 12 or more in three of those games, including a career-high 18 points in SCU’s last outing on the road against Washington State.
Mahi Making Moves:
Elijah Mahi has made the most of his opportunities in his first season with the program and is
currently fourth on the team in scoring at 11.4 ppg. But it is in his last five games that the Toronto product has really shined - averaging 15.4 pts, 5.8 reb and 4.4 asts while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from 3-point range. Mahi has dished out 22 assists against just a pair of turnovers (11.0 A/TO ratio).
Mahi has 14 double figure scoring outings on the year and is tied for second with four 20-point games.
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
he 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.
Rising Up in the Ranks:
Herb Sendek is in sole possession of the 52nd most wins in NCAA D1 history (572), moving ahead of John Beilein with the win over Washington State. He needs just nine more to tie Mike Brey for 51st.
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.
