Men Continue WCC Play At Pacific Monday

Men Continue WCC Play At Pacific Monday

Santa Clara Game Notes

Santa Clara will continue West Coast Conference play on the road at Pacific on Mon., Dec. 29.  The 7 pm game will be telecast on WTV.com with Pacific's Zack Bayrouty and Bob Thomason making the call.  It will also be broadcast live on SantaClaraBroncos.com as part of the Bronco Radio Network.  Anthony Passarelli is in his eighth season as the Broncos' play-by-play announcer. 

Santa Clara is 5-7 and 0-1 in the WCC.  Pacific is 8-5 and 0-1 in the WCC.  Santa Clara is 1-2 on the road this season and the Tigers are 4-2 at home.  Pacific is led by T.J. Wallace, who averages 15.3 ppg, and Dulani Robinson, who adds 11.4 ppg.

On Saturday Santa Clara erased Saint Mary's four-point halftime lead early in the second half with a three by Jared Brownridge and a bucket by Brandon Clark at 17:59. But Saint Mary's outscored the Broncos 17-4 over the next six plus minutes and finished off the Broncos 73-60 in their West Coast Conference opener in Moraga.  Clark scored 24, including five boards, four assists and two steals. Denzel Johnson added 10 points with three rebounds.  Evan Wardlow had a career-high eight points off the bench.  Brownridge and Matt Hubbard had seven points each with Hubbard leading the team with seven boards.

With five lead changes and four ties in the second half, San Francisco came back from being five down at the half to defeat Pacific 77-71 in Stockton on Saturday.  USF took the lead for good on a three by Mark Tollefsen with 2:48 left in the game.  

Our Opponent

SCU leads the all-time series 91-42 vs. Pacific, with SCU winning four of the last five contests.  The last 12 games have resulted in seven wins for the Broncos.  UOP has won four of the last five games at the Spanos Center. 

Last 12 meetings: SCU & UOP

SCU 81, UOP 64 (March 7, 2014)

SCU 70, UOP 50 (Feb. 20, 2014)

UOP 80, SCU 68 (Jan. 11, 2013)

SCU 75, UOP 71 (Dec. 15, 2012)

SCU 78, UOP 76 (Dec. 17, 2011) 

UOP 69, SCU 59 (Dec. 14, 2010) 

SCU 54, UOP 53 (Dec. 21, 2009) 

UOP 84, SCU 57 (Nov. 22, 2009) 

UOP 63, SCU 57 (Dec. 20, 2008) 

UOP 71, SCU 65 (Dec. 12, 2007) 

SCU 67, UOP 49 (Dec. 09, 2006) 

SCU 63, UOP 60 (Nov. 26, 2005)

Pacific, along with SCU, was an original member of what is now the WCC, joining in 1952-53 to form the California Basketball Association. Pacific left the league in 1971, but accepted an invitation back to the WCC beginning on July 1, 2013.

In the two team's last meeting, the opening round of the 2014 WCC Championship, Crons WCC Newcomer of the Year Jared Brownridge continued to show his hot hand beyond the arc and three Broncos also added double figures as the Broncos defeated Pacific 81-64 March 6, 2014.

Brownridge scored 20 points, shooting 4 of 8 from beyond the arc.  It was his 25th game in double figures last season.  Brandon Clark and Evan Roquemore both scored 15 and Jerry Brown added 12 with eight boards.

Brownridge and Clark Lead The Broncos

The Broncos return the WCC's top-scoring back-court in Brandon Clark and Jared Brownridge.  Clark is averaging 16.8 ppg after scoring 16.9 ppg in 2013-14.  Brownridge is averaging 15.3 ppg this season after leading the team with 17.2 ppg last year.  Clark has scored double figures in 10 of 12 games and Brownridge has done it nine times this year.  Brownridge has led the team in scoring seven times and Clark the other five games.  

Johnson

Starting every game this season, Denzel Johnson is averaging 8.0 ppg.  His 21 steals on the year puts him at No. 3 in the WCC.  Playing a team-high 392 minutes this year, he has played in 97 games with 23 starts during his four-year career.  A versatile guard, he started 10 games his freshman year and then just one his junior year. 

132 Career Threes

Jared Brownridge has started each of the 45 career games he has played in dating back to last season.  He led the team with 95 three pointers a season ago and has already hit 37 this season.  His 567 points last year scored shattered the SCU freshman record and placed him at No. 2 all-time in points scored for a Bay Area freshman (list includes SCU, Stanford, Cal, Saint Mary's, San Francisco and Pacific).  He finished his freshman year with 24 points vs. Gonzaga in the WCC quarters, as the Broncos fell 77-75 on a last second layup by the Zags' David Stockton. 

 20+ 5 Times This Year; 18 Times In Career

Brandon Clark has started 49 of the 113 games he has played in during his four-year career. Clark has scored 20+ points in five games this season, including 24 at Saint Mary's on Dec. 27 and a career-high 31 vs. Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 14.  He has scored 20+ in 18 games the past two years after not having a single 20+ game his first two years.

Clark had his streak of 25 straight games in double figures snapped at Utah State when he scored nine. The streak dated back to Dec. 13, 2013.  It was the longest streak for a Bronco since Travis Niesen scored double figures in 22 straight games (Feb. 5, 2005-Jan. 21, 2006).  .   

Back In, Not Again

Freshman-redshirt Emmanuel Ndumanya played seven minutes with a rebound at Saint Mary's on Dec. 27 after sitting out the last nine games with a left foot injury.  The Anambra, Nigeria native grabbed 14 rebounds in his first two games, averaging 15.0 mpg.

The Broncos will be without the services of forward Yannick Atanga (6-8, 230) for the remainder of the year.  He injured his knee in the opening half of the season vs. Cal State Fullerton and did not play vs. San Diego Christian, but did play 20 minutes at Utah State.  After the game his knee swelled and an MRI determined he tore his ACL.  Atanga had surgery to repair it on Dec. 16.  It is expected he will apply for a sixth year.  

With a block at Utah State on Nov. 19, Atanga sits at No. 5 all-time in SCU history with 94 career blocks.  He passed former All-American Kurt Rambis (93, 1976-80).  After leading the WCC in rebounds in 2012-13, Atanga was second on the team in rebounds last year with 5.0 rpg and led the team with 30 blocks.  He has collected 10+ boards in 11 career games.  A native of Yaounde, Cameroon, Atanga spent time playing with the Cameroon National Team in China as part of a four-nation tournament in 2013.  Sporting a 7-4 wing span, Atanga dreams of one day working for the United Nations as a peacekeeper in Africa.

Career

Nate Kratch scored a career-high 15 points off the bench on Dec. 20 vs. Northeastern. His previous career high 11 points at Cal Poly on Dec. 7, 2013.  Kratch collected a season-high eight boards.  He was seven of 10 from the free throw line, also career bests.  Kratch has come off the bench in all 12 games this season.  He averages 3.8 rpg and 3.3 ppg.

Freshman Matt Hubbard added a few career bests in the Northeastern game as well.  He had career highs in points (12)and rebounds (9).  He also tied career highs in field goals and threes made.  Starting 10 of the 12 games this season, he leads the team with 5.3 rpg.

Freshman Evan Wardlow scored a career-high eight points off the bench at Saint Mary's. 

Brandon

Brandon Clark is No. 24 on the all-time points scored list with 1,244.  With three more points, he will pass No. 23 Ron Reis (1,246, 1988-92).  He needs 37 points to move to No. 20 and will pass Ralph Ogden (1,280, 1967-70).  Clark is tied for No. 3 all-time in free throw percentage. He has made 325 of his 391 free throws attempted, good for 83.1 percent.  The school record is held by Steve Nash (86.1 percent, 1991-96).

Clark was named the WCC Player of the Week on Nov. 17, 2014.  He set a school record for points scored in a season opener with 31, including 15 of 16 from the line, in the Broncos' win vs. CSU Fullerton on Nov. 14.  He had four career bests on the weekend as well.  He was 15 of 16 from the free throw line vs. the Titans - marking a career best in makes and attempts. He is the only the seventh Bronco in school history to make 15+ free throws in a game.  He scored 21 points vs. SDC on Nov. 15, collecting career-highs with nine assists and nine rebounds.

Career 1,000 Points Scored

1. Kevin Foster (2008-13) 2,423

3. Kurt Rambis (1976-80) 1,736

3. Harold Keeling (1981-85) 1,731

4. Brian Jones (1996-01) 1,722

5. Marc Trasolini (2008-13) 1,699

6. Steve Nash (1992-96) 1,689

7. Dennis Awtrey (1967-70) 1,675

7. John Bryant (2005-09) 1,667  

9. Londale Theus (1976-80) 1,643

10. Evan Roquemore (2010-14) 1,615

11. Ken Sears (1951-55) 1,586

12. Kyle Bailey (2001-05) 1,571

13. Mike Stewart (1970-73) 1,446

14. Bud Ogden (1966-69) 1,437

15. Nick Vanos (1981-85) 1,399

16. Mike Gervasoni (1964-67) 1,393

17. Travis Niesen (2002-06) 1,380

18. Jens Gordon (1985-89) 1,356

19. Marlon Garnett (1993-97) 1,346

20. Ralph Ogden (1967-70) 1,280

21. Mitch Burley (1985-89) 1,258

22. Frank Sobrero (1957-60) 1,256

23. Ron Reis (1988-92) 1,246

24. Brandon Clark (2010-) 1,244

25. Nathan Fast (1996-00)  1,182

26. Scott Lamson (1981-85)  1,120

27. Raymond Cowels III (2009-13) 1,090

28. Brody Angley (2004-08) 1,074

29.  Dan Weiss (1984-88)  1,070

30. DeWayne Lewis (1990-94) 1,032

31. Jim Young (1951-54)  1,016

32. Glen Hubbard (1972-76) 1,012

Our 20s

Jared Brownridge (27) and Brandon Clark (23) scored 20+ points each in SCU's 68-60 win vs. Rider on Nov. 30.  Brownridge had a season-high six threes.  They narrowly missed the feat again vs. Washington State with Brownridge scoring 25 and Clark adding 19.  Scoring 20+ together is nothing new for the duo of Brownridge and Clark, as they did it five times last season. The first time was Nov. 16, 2013 when Brownridge scored 21 and Clark added 23. The last time was Jan. 28, 2014 when Brownridge dropped 30 and Clark added 20.

Brownridge has scored 30+ points three times, all last year.  He has scored 20+ points 17 times in his career, including three straight games this season (vs. Rider, at San Jose State and vs. Washington State).  Starting all 45 games of his career, he has scored double figures 35 times.  He has scored five or more three seven times in his career, including seven twice last year (7 vs. La Sierra, 12/14/13 and 7 at Pepperdine, 3-1-14).

Clark has scored double figures 57 times in his career, including 18 games with 20 or more points the past two years.  He also scored 30 or more three times during his career, including a season-high 31 points vs. Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 14. 

Youngsters

The Broncos welcome four true freshmen to their team: forward Matt Hubbard from Colville, Wash., guard Stephen Edwards from Muskogee, Okla., forward Evan Wardlow from Lake View Terrace, Calif., and guard Kai Healy from Sydney, Australia. In addition, the Broncos have two redshirt freshmen, forward Jarvis Pugh from Murphy, Texas and center Emmanuel Ndumanya from Anambra, Nigeria. In the offseason, the team also added forward Dominic Romeo, a graduate student who played a year of football at Notre Dame University.  

Kai

The Broncos were expecting to redshirt Kai Healy this season, but announced prior to the Michigan State game on Nov. 24 that he would play this year. He responded with four points and three boards in 19 minutes at Michigan State.  He started and scored a key three pointer in the first half in Santa Clara's win vs. Rider on Nov. 30.    

Healy is a 2013 graduate of The Scots College in Sydney, Australia.  The Scots College lost 82-76 to Lake Ginninderra College in the national championship high school game in 2013.  Healy had 25 points in that game on 10 of 11 shooting from the field, including making four of five beyond the arc.  Dante Exum scored 19 points with 15 assists for Lake Ginninderra.  Lake Ginninderra had a 17-point three quarter time lead reduced to four points inside the final two minutes, before they steadied to hold on for the win.  Healy's team defeated Exum's team three of the five times they played during their prep career.  Exum went on to be the fifth overall pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Healy was born in Indianapolis, Ind. and moved to Australia prior to his fourth birthday and has lived there with his family since then. His father is a Notre Dame graduate and his mother a University of Indiana graduate.