Malibu, Calif. – On a record night for Jared Brownridge and Brandon Clark, the Broncos used a 24-2 run laced over the end of the first half and the start of the second half as Santa Clara held off Pepperdine on Saturday evening in Malibu to win 86-78.
Clark scored 18 points and became the newest member of Santa Clara's 1,000 career point list. He now has 1,013 career points which is No. 31 on the list. He is the seventh player under Coach Keating to score 1,000 plus.
Brownridge broke or tied six Bronco freshman records with his 38 points and seven threes. He is only the 12th Bronco in school history to score 38+ points. It was the best scoring performance since Steve Nash scored 40 points at Gonzaga on Jan. 19, 1995. He broke Brian Jones record for points in a game by a freshman (34 vs. Marquette, Nov. 29, 1996) and tied the record Jones set in the same game with 12 field goals. He also tied his own freshman record for threes in a game with seven (vs. La Sierra, Dec. 14, 2013).
Santa Clara is 13-18 and 6-12 in the WCC. Pepperdine is 15-15 and 8-10 in the WCC.
Santa Clara shot 42.9 percent from the field (27 of 63), including 47.4 percent from three point range (9 of 19). Santa Clara shot 74.2 percent from the free throw line (23 of 31). The Broncos collected 38 rebounds, 16 assists, three blocks, 12 steals and had 12 turnovers.
Brownridge had 38 points on 12 of 22 shooting from the field and 7 of 9 from beyond the arc. He was 7 of 8 from the free throw line; and he added seven rebounds and three assists. Clark had 18 points with eight assists. Jerry Brown scored 11 points with six rebounds.
Brownridge has 523 points on the season, shattering Foster's points scored record (485 points, 2008-09). His seven threes gave him 87 this season, topping Foster's record (85, 2008-09). Brownridge also passed Kurt Rambis for the freshman record for field goals made with 168 made this season (Rambis, 167, 1976-77).
Pepperdine shot 44.6 percent from the field (25 of 56), including 40.9 percent from three point range (9 of 22). Pepperdine shot 65.5 percent from the free throw line (19 of 29). The Waves collected 36 rebounds, 18 assists, five blocks, five steals and had 17 turnovers.
To start play in rainy Malibu, Clark wasted no time collecting his 1,000th career point as he hit a floater at 19:34 and a three at 19:08 to put SCU up 5-2 in the first half.
Brown scored three straight baskets for the Broncos and was fouled on the fourth attempt and tied it up 12-12 with his free throw at 13:22.
Brownridge broke the Bronco freshman points scored record at 12:55 with a tip in on a dandy pass from Evan Roquemore on a steal by Brown to put the Broncos up 14-12. Kevin Foster scored 486 points in 2008-09 as a rookie.
Robert Garrett tied it up 16-16 with a baby jump hook at 11:27.
The Broncos went on an 11-2 run to take a 27-19 lead at 8:01. Brownridge and Johnson scored inside on back-to-back possessions in about eight seconds to move ahead 20-17 at 10:36.
Clark scored a three-point play at 9:18 and Brownridge scored back-to-back baskets to put the Broncos up 27-19 at 8:01.
Pep chipped away at the lead with a 6-0 run before Brownridge sank his 11th point of the first half at 5:45, a three – 30-25 Broncos. The Broncos went on a 7-0 run with inside baskets by Johnson and Atanga and a three by Brownridge to put the Broncos up 39-29 at 2:23.
After Pep scored a bucket, the Broncos finished the half on an 8-0 run. Brownridge had 20 first-half points, including 4 of 5 from beyond the three. During the run, Brownridge scored his 500th point of the season.
Leading 47-31 at the half, the Broncos opened the second half with a 7-0 run, taking a 54-31 lead at 17:23. Brownridge's three opened the scoring to tie Foster with 85 threes his rookie year. Jalen Richard scored inside and then crushed a triple to put SCU up by 27 points - 59-32 at 15:48.
Brownridge's sixth three of the game at 12:39 broke Foster's rookie record for threes as the Broncos led 62-38.
Brown stopped a run by the Waves with a dunk at 8:08, but Malte Kramer responded with a three at 8:01 to make the Broncos lead 66-50. Pep continued to peck away at the Broncos 27 points lead at 15:48 by hitting with Kramer hitting another three to pull within 10 at 6:42, 66-56 Broncos.
Brownridge was fouled hard by Kramer when he stole the ball and he sank both at 6:10, but Brooks crushed a three from the corner to pull Pep within nine at 6:04. Brownridge finger-rolled one in, but Pep responded again inside, 70-61 Broncos.
Brownridge crushed his seventh three of the game at 4:34, tying his own Bronco freshman record (7 vs. La Sierra, Dec. 14, 2013). Broncos went up 73-61.
Clark scored a pair of free throws at 1:23 and 1:02 to put the Broncos up 79-69. Brownridge added to his point total with a pair of free throws with 54.2 seconds left, 81-71 Broncos.
Game Notes: Santa Clara started Jalen Richard, Brandon Clark, Jared Brownridge, Jerry Brown and Yannick Atanga … Clark (528) and Brownridge (523) have both scored 500+ points this season, becoming the fourth duo in school history to do this. It is the first time in school history the Broncos have had duos accomplish this feat in back-to-back season (Marc Trasolini and Foster did it last year). They are now the eighth-best duo in school history.