Nov. 14, 2000
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's basketball program opens its 94th season of action Friday against Utah State in the first round of the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska. The first round contest is scheduled for a 10 p.m. (Pacific) tipoff and will be broadcast live locally on KBZS 1220AM and on the worldwide web at www.SantaClaraBroncos.com.
Santa Clara completed its exhibition season with a 1-1 record with a 98-96 overtime loss to the California All-Stars and a 73-65 win over Korabel, a club team from Ukraine. Junior guard Justin Holbrook (Cottage Grove, Ore.) led the Broncos in the first game with 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting. Senior guard Brian Jones (Merced, Calif.) was the team's scoring leader with a double-double in the second game with 30 points and 11 rebounds.
Santa Clara finished the 1999-2000 season with a 19-11 record and fourth-place finish in the West Coast Conference. Three starters and 52.6 percent of the Broncos' scoring from last season return, including Jones, senior forward Jamie Holmes (Merced, Calif.) and center David Emslie (Seattle, Wash.). Emslie, center Stephen Dely (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) and forward Andre Bobbitt (Riverbank, Calif.) missed the final exhibition contest due to minor injuries. All three are expected to play in the Top of the World Classic.
Utah State returns four starters from its NCAA Tournament team that went 28-6, the third-most wins of any team in the nation last season. The Aggies posted a 19-game win streak and set several school-records in the process. USU also returns 81 percent of its rebounding and 76 percent of its scoring from a year ago.
After the first game against Utah State, the Broncos will face either South Florida or Davidson in the second round of the Top of the World Classic. Other tournament participants are Alaska-Fairbanks, Austin Peay, Colorado and Jackson State.
The Broncos are on the road for the next month until they open the newly renovated Leavey Center on Dec. 13 against Fresno State at 7:30 p.m. Season and individual game tickets are available by calling the Santa Clara Athletic Ticket Office at 408/554-4660 or logging onto the official Bronco athletic website at www.SantaClaraBroncos.com.