Nov. 9, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Fans of Santa Clara University men's basketball will have their first opportunity to check out the 2005-06 version of the Broncos tonight when the team plays its only exhibition of the preseason against Holy Names University.

The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and a $5 admission fee will be charged at the door. The game will also feature a live Internet Gametracker on SCU's official athletic website at www.SantaClaraBroncos.com.

"We are having a productive preseason and tonight's exhibition will give us a chance to see some of the new guys against a different opponent other than ourselves," said Dick Davey, entering his 14th season as the head coach of the Broncos. "Holy Names has a good team and they will present a challenge for us. The main objective of the game, however, is to get ready for the season."

The Broncos enter the exhibition with just six healthy returning letterwinners from last season's team. Senior forward Travis Niesen is the team's leading returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 15.1 points and 4.5 boards per game in 2004-05. Sophomore point guard Brody Angley and junior center Sean Denison are the only other returning starters.

Other returning letterwinners include senior forward Tristan Parham, sophomore forward Mitch Henke, and sophomore guard John Burke. Junior guard Scott Dougherty is out for the season after suffering a preseason foot injury.

Eligible newcomers for the Broncos include freshmen John Bryant, Domineek Daniel, Calvin Johnson, Cliff Sammet, redshirt freshman Okechukwu Mbanugo and senior walk-on Joey Kaempf.

Junior Josh Higgins and senior Danny Pariseau will sit out the season in accordance with NCAA transfer regulations.

Santa Clara opens the season officially on Nov. 19 against Cal State Stanislaus in a 1 p.m. start in the Leavey Center.

Season tickets, family plans and selected individual game tickets for SCU basketball are on sale through the athletic ticket office by calling 408/554-4660 or by clicking here.