SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A hot shooting start, a program record and a hard-fought first half wasn't enough Tuesday for the Santa Clara men's basketball team to repeat its feat of beating Gonzaga earlier in the year, as the Bulldogs pulled away in the second half for a 95-76 West Coast Conference win in front of a sellout crowd at Leavey Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Gonzaga (22-8, 13-4 WCC) first began turning the tide of Tuesday's game with a 10-0 run over the final 2 1/2 minutes of the first half, flipping an eight-point deficit into a two-point halftime lead at 44-42. The run was Gonzaga's answer for Santa Clara's hot start to the night in the game's opening minutes. Khalif Battle scored the final eight points of the Bulldogs' run on his own, icing what was a 14-point half for him. He'd finish with 21 points, five rebounds and an assist.
   
• Graham Ike led all players with 24 points on 11-for-13 shooting. He also had seven rebounds. Ryan Nembhard logged a double-double with 12 points and 15 assists. Tyeree Bryan was one of four Broncos to score in double figures, scoring a team-high 18. Carlos Stewart scored 14, and Adama-Alpha Bal and Camaron Tongue both chipped in 11. Johnny O'Neil led SCU with seven rebounds, while Bal logged a team-high four assists.
   
• Santa Clara (19-11, 11-6 WCC) opened the game with a bang, sprinting out the gate on a 13-3 run to lead by 10 only three minutes in. That opening push included a perfect 6-for-6 shooting start, highlighted by four 3-pointers from three different players. Bryan hit back-to-back treys early, rekindling memories of his 35-point explosion with seven 3s in Spokane, Wash., when the Broncos beat the Bulldogs, 103-99, back on Jan. 18.
   
• The Santa Clara defense was also strong early, holding Gonzaga to only one field goal and forcing a turnover in the game's first 3 1/2 minutes. But the Bulldogs wouldn't stay cold for long. They made their next five shots in a row and nine of their next 12 to pull within five points at 30-25 midway through the period.
   
• Santa Clara started the game a perfect 8-for-8 from beyond the 3-point line, and would make 11 on the night, shooting 44% from deep. The 11 long balls set a new program record for 3-pointers in a season at 322, with still one regular season game to go and at least one game at the WCC Tournament.
   
• Santa Clara was still within single digits of the Bulldogs five minutes into the second half, but a 3-for-14 (21.4%) shooting start to the final period allowed Gonzaga to slowly pull away. The Bulldogs put their lead at double digits for good at the 13:28 mark. Another shooting lull five minutes later gave way to a 12-2 Gonzaga run, pushing the lead to 20 with just under five minutes to play.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 1: This is the first sellout this season for the Broncos at the Leavey Center and the first since Jan. 13, 2024 against Saint Mary's.
• 11: Cameron Tongue made this game his 11th double digit scoring finish with 11 made points from the field and at the charity stripe.
• 14: Another Bronco finished in double digit scoring, Tyree Bryan was 4-of-6 from beyond the arch and 6-of-10 from the field.  He puts up 14th game in double digit scoring on the season. 
• 18: Carlos Stewart made this his 18th game of the season finishing in double-digit scoring. 
• 21: Adama Bal had 11 points against the Bulldogs, and puts up his 21st game in double digit scoring.
• 322: With 11 made 3-pointers on Tuesday, the 2024-25 team broke the program record for 3-pointers in a season, now with 322. The old record was 318 from the 2016-17 season.

POSTGAME COMMENTS

Hear from Coach Herb after tonight's game vs. Gonzaga ?? pic.twitter.com/AHsavdxnxt

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) February 26, 2025

COMING UP

• The Broncos wrap up the regular season on the road Saturday at Pacific. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the West Coast Conference Championship Tournament will kick off on March 6 in Las Vegas.