Ticket Information | VIDEO: Kratch and Feagin Postgame Interviews | VIDEO: All 22 3-Pointers AUDIO: Sendek and Kratch Postgame Interviews
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The matchup of two of the top scorers in the West Coast Conference never materialized on Thursday, but there was plenty of scoring at least for Santa Clara men's basketball.
Nate Kratch scored a career-high 32 points, including 24 in the first half, KJ Feagin chipped in 18 and Henrik Jadersten added 11 off the bench to lead the Broncos (15-13, 9-6) to their most lopsided win ever in WCC play, a 106-55 victory over Pepperdine, which came in on a three-game winning streak.
The Broncos scored more than 100 points against a Division I opponent for the first time in nine years, matched a WCC record with 22 3-pointers and were just 12 shy of their season average for a game (65.6) with a 54-point outburst in the first half.
Jared Brownridge, the third-leading scorer in the league (18.4 ppg), recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, all in the first half when the Broncos built a 25-10 lead just eight minutes in.
Kratch nailed seven of his first eight field goals and the lead grew to 44-14 with less than six minutes remaining in the first half. He went 13 of 16 from the field, including 5 of 7 3-pointers, in the game.
"The start of the game I felt comfortable with my shot," Kratch said. "During warmups, shooting felt good and smooth. The guards did a great job finding me. Compared to other games it was just about going at it and not hesitating."
The Broncos hit 75 percent (21 of 28) from the floor to lead 54-19 after the first half.
Pepperdine was never closer than 36 points in the second half and Santa Clara led by 53 twice.
VIDEO | Kratch/Feagin on @SantaClaraHoops' record-setting night from beyond the arc! #StampedeAhead #SCUBroncos https://t.co/6ckfOZpr5r pic.twitter.com/BIGUpykwF1
— Santa Clara Broncos (@SCUBroncos) February 17, 2017
Nolan Taylor scored a team-high 14 points and Lamond Murray Jr. added 12 for the Waves (9-18, 5-10) who shot 41 percent from the floor and were out-rebounded 35-19. Murray entered the game as the WCC's leading scorer (20.9 ppg).
Santa Clara, which shot a season-best 64 percent from the floor, eclipsed 100 points against a Division I opponent for the first time since a 101-86 triumph against Pepperdine on Jan. 21, 2008. The Broncos last cleared the century mark with a 106-66 victory against Simpson College on Nov. 10, 2013.
"We shot the ball well tonight and once again I thought we set the tone with our preparation and our defense," Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek said. "So like we've said before, our team has continued to make strides on defense, and that in turn leads to better things on offense for us."
The Broncos' point total was the most since a 111-55 victory against Chico State on Nov. 27, 1993.
The 51-point margin of victory is tied for the fifth-largest in school history and eclipses the record against a WCC team by seven. Santa Clara downed Saint Mary's, 113-69, on Feb. 10, 1979.
Gonzaga had league-record 22 3-pointers against San Francisco on Feb. 23, 1995. Santa Clara's record was 16, posted against Pacific on Dec. 21, 2015.
Santa Clara's win, coupled with San Francisco's loss at Gonzaga Thursday, moves the Broncos into sole possession of fourth place in the WCC standings. BYU is third with a 10-5 record.
Matt Hauser had 11 of the team's 32 assists, which was just three off the school record set against Loyola Marymount on Jan. 31, 1975.
Hauser and Brownridge combined for 21 assists and just three turnovers.
"The guys did a tremendous job sharing the basketball," Sendek said. "Then they did it when the game was in hand and even when we were deep into our bench at the end of the game the guys continued to play the right way and share the ball."
VIDEO | Jadersten's record-breaking shot for @SantaClaraHoops! Watch all 22 3s here --> https://t.co/WKYWGcm7xW #StampedeAhead #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/NSoNpceCyE
— Santa Clara Broncos (@SCUBroncos) February 18, 2017
Santa Clara cleared its relatively short bench with more than nine minutes left in the game. Normally a seven-man rotation, all 11 available players saw action.
Emmanuel Ndumanya had a game-high 11 rebounds and a career-best four steals for Santa Clara.
The Broncos continue their three-game homestand Saturday when San Diego visits Leavey Center. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
Team Notes: Tonight's game was the 134th meeting in the series, which began in 1956. The Broncos now hold a 74-59 lead with this year's series sweep. Entering this season, the teams had split the previous 10 games in the series … the Broncos scored a season-high 54 points in the opening half. They had 41 vs. Sacred Heart on Nov. 21. They were just 12 below their game season average (65.6 ppg) … the Broncos eclipsed their best shooting half of the season in the opening 20 minutes (75.0 percent). They hit 62.5 percent in the first half vs. Loyola Marymount (Jan. 21). They connected on 60 percent (18 of 30) shooting from the field in the second half vs. Pepperdine (Jan. 14) and also shot 60 percent (15 of 25) in the final 20 minutes vs. Sacred Heart (Nov. 21) … the Broncos average 14.0 assists per game. They eclipsed that in the first half (17) and had 32 in the game on 39 field goals made. The 32 assists were the second-most in school history (35 vs. Loyola Marymount, Jan. 31, 1975) ... Pepperdine's 19 points in the first period is second to only Portland's 16 in the second half (Feb. 2), the fewest allowed by SCU in a half this season ... Santa Clara's 22 3-point field goals is a new school record, matched the WCC mark (22 by Gonzaga vs. San Francisco, Feb. 23, 1995) and tied for the 12th-most in NCAA history. The previous school record of 16 was set on Dec. 21, 2015 at Pacific ... the Broncos' 51-point margin of victory is tied for the fifth-best in program history.
Individual Notes: Kratch matched his season high in points (19 three times) on his 3-pointer with 8:11 left in the first half. He finished with a career-high 32 points on 13 of 16 shooting and a career-high five 3-point field goals. Brownridge tallied a career-high 10 assists (all in the first half) and added 12 points to record his first-career double-double ... Feagin poured in 18 points and has now reached double figures in 12 of the last 14 games. His six 3-pointers is a new career high. Feagin tied the Leavey Center 3-point field-goal percentage record (Ronnie Fines of Portland – 6 of 6, Feb. 18, 1993) and set the one for Santa Clara players (80.0 [4 of 5] by Doron Perkins vs. San Jose State, Dec. 1, 2004) … Brownridge became the school's all-time leader in minutes played and moved within one of the all-time starts mark. Brownridge (4,326) moved past Evan Roquemore (4,271/2010-14) in minutes played and trails only Kevin Foster (125/2008-13) in starts.
Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Men's Basketball: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Snapchat (SantaClaraHoops)
