AUDIO: Sendek Postgame Interview on KDOW-AM 1220
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Solid shooting and a big contribution off the bench helped Santa Clara men's basketball claim its first win of the season.
Tahj Eaddy posted a career-high 23 points, reserve Henrik Jadersten matched his career-best by scoring 17 and Josip Vrankic tallied 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Broncos to a 71-63 road victory over San Jose State on Saturday.
Michael Steadman scored 21 and Craig LeCesne added 13 points for the Spartans (1-5) who held a 45-30 rebounding edge, but shot just 38 percent from the field.
Santa Clara (1-4), which led the entire second half, turned the ball over a season-low eight times and held a 14-2 edge on points off turnovers.
The Broncos, who shot a season-high 47 percent from the floor, led by as many as nine in the final 20 minutes, but a 3-pointer from Noah Baumann trimmed the lead to 67-61 with 4:16 left.
Neither team scored until Vrankic, who was 9-for-13 from the field, had an inside basket on a second-chance opportunity with 1:29 remaining.
The Broncos held the Spartans scoreless after Baumann's 3-pointer.
Trey Wertz had a career-high 10 assists and just two turnovers in 35 minutes. He has started the last three games due to KJ Feagin's hand injury.
Jadersten connected on 7 of 9 from the floor and nailed both of 3-point attempts. Eaddy was 6-for-9 from behind the 3-point line and dished out six assists.
The Spartans got off to a fast start, leading by nine twice in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
Santa Clara slowly chipped away, tying the game twice and finally pulling ahead 37-35 on an Eaddy layup in the final minute of the opening half.
San Jose State pulled within one point three times early in the second half, but Santa Clara answered each time.
VIDEO | Tahj Eaddy (@Tahj2Eazy_) & Henrik Jadersten (@hjadersten) combined for 40 points in Saturday's 71-63 win against @SJSUMBB and that duo discussed the team's performance. #StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/yEmYvQ0pef
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) November 25, 2018
NOTES
• The Broncos lead the all-time series 81-30 with victories in seven of the last nine matchups. The teams met for the 24th consecutive season and have played in 36 of the last 37 years (since 1982-83). The 111 games played are the sixth highest total of any Santa Clara opponent and most against a nonconference foe. The Spartans have won the last two in the series. The Spartans had won the last two in the series.
• Henrik Jadersten played a season-high 27 minutes. He saw action in only 15 combined in the last three games after returning from a preseason foot injury.
• Fallou Ndoye injured his lower leg in the first half and did not return.
• Josip Vrankic has connected on 23 of 36 field goals (63.9 percent) in the last three games.
• Former Santa Clara assistant coach Julius Hodge is in his first year on the San Jose State staff in the same role.
NEXT UP
The Broncos are on the road, but stay in the Bay Area for their next game. They face Cal on Monday then start a seven-game homestand on Thursday when Jackson State visits Leavey Center.
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