Thrilling Rematch: Santa Clara Men’s Basketball Takes on Gonzaga Again

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara men’s basketball team had a strong start against Gonzaga, but it wasn’t enough. The Bulldogs pulled away in the second half, winning 95-76 in a thrilling West Coast Conference game at Leavey Center.

Game Highlights

• Gonzaga turned the game around with a late run in the first half. They went on a 10-0 scoring spree, switching an eight-point deficit into a two-point lead at halftime, 44-42. Khalif Battle played a key role, scoring eight points during that stretch.
• Graham Ike led Gonzaga with 24 points, shooting 11-for-13, and grabbed seven rebounds. Ryan Nembhard helped with a double-double, totaling 12 points and 15 assists. For Santa Clara, Tyree Bryan led the team with 18 points, followed by Carlos Stewart with 14 and both Adama-Alpha Bal and Camaron Tongue contributing 11 points each.
• Santa Clara opened strong, going on a 13-3 run. They made their first six shots, including four three-pointers. Bryan hit back-to-back threes, reminiscent of his earlier standout game against Gonzaga.
• Defensively, Santa Clara held Gonzaga to just one basket for the first few minutes. But soon, Gonzaga found their groove, cutting into Santa Clara’s lead.
• The Broncos broke their program record for three-pointers in a season, hitting 11 shots from beyond the arc, bringing their season total to 322.
• Despite a valiant effort, Santa Clara struggled in the second half, shooting only 21.4% early on. This allowed Gonzaga to extend their lead significantly.

Notable Stats

• 1: This was the first sellout of the season at the Leavey Center.
• 11: Cameron Tongue scored in double digits for the 11th time this season.
• 14: Tyree Bryan hit double digits in scoring for the 14th time, making 6 of his 10 shots.
• 18: Carlos Stewart also reached double figures for the 18th time this season.
• 21: Adama Bal scored 11 points, marking his 21st game in double-digit scoring.
• 322: The Broncos’ new three-point record surpasses the previous mark of 318 set in 2016-17.

What’s Next

• The Broncos will finish the regular season with an away game at Pacific on March 1. Following this, they will participate in the West Coast Conference Championship Tournament starting March 6 in Las Vegas.

Check out this related article: Thrilling Victory: UC Men’s Basketball Snaps Baylor with a Close 69-67 Win!