SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara men's basketball is back home on Saturday after a stretch of three in a row on the road.
The Broncos look to extend their 16-game home-winning streak when Pacific visits Leavey Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Santa Clara (15-4, 2-2 West Coast Conference) is coming off a 104-54 loss at the hands of top-ranked Gonzaga. Joel Ayayi posted 19 points to lead five players in double figures for the Bulldogs who won their nation's best 33rd straight at home.
The Broncos and Tigers (15-5, 3-1) have each defeated Saint Mary's and lost to San Francisco. Pacific has won 10 of its last 12 games.
QUICK HITS...
• Santa Clara has won its last 16 home games, dating to last season. That streak is the third longest in school history and ranks first all-time during the Toso Pavilion/Leavey Center era (since 1975-76). The mark is also tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the NCAA. Santa Clara has not lost at home since a 66-55 defeat to Saint Mary's (Feb. 14, 2019).
• Seven players are averaging at least 7.0 points, including four in double digits led by Trey Wertz (12.1 ppg), Guglielmo Caruso (11.6), DJ Mitchell (10.7) and Josip Vrankic (10.4). Keshawn Justice is averaging 8.9 points, Jalen Williams 7.7 and Tahj Eaddy 7.3. Caruso, who has been out of the lineup, is the top rebounder at 5.5 per game. Mitchell is second at 5.3 and Vrankic third at 4.9. Wertz is averaging a team-high 3.7 assists per game and Vrankic is second at 3.3.
• Santa Clara needs just one win to match last season's total and its record is the best through 19 games since 1994-95 when the mark was also 15-4. The 14-2 start was the best since opening a school-record 21-0 in 1968-69 on the way to a 27-2 mark and a trip to the NCAAs. The Broncos won at least 14 of 16 to begin a season for only fourth time in school history: 14-2 in 1930-31 and 15-1 in 1946-47.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION |
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| Tickets | Click here |
| TV | None |
| Video | WCC Network |
| Radio/Audio | KDOW-AM 1220 | Tunein |
| Live Stats | Statbroadcast |
| Game Notes (PDF) |
Santa Clara | Pacific |
YEAR FOUR UNDER SENDEK...
The Broncos are heading into the their 113th year, including fourth under Herb Sendek, who has been successful in each of his three previous head-coaching stops. With a resume that includes 18 postseason appearances and three conference coach of the year awards, Sendek, was one of the three youngest coaches with 400 or more career victories. Having led the Broncos to winning records in two of his three seasons, he is in his 26th season as a collegiate head coach with stops at Arizona State, North Carolina State and Miami (Ohio).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES...
• Injuries are starting to take a toll and Guglielmo Caruso is the newest addition with a lower right leg injury. He was injured against Alcorn State (Dec. 29) and ruled out indefinitely. Ezekiel Richards (ankle), who played in seven games as a reserve, and Miguel Tomley (knee), who has not seen action, have been ruled out for the season.
• Over the last six games, Trey Wertz is averaging 14.7 points on 61.8 percent (34 of 55) shooting from the floor, including 61.5 percent (16-for-26) behind the 3-point line in that span.
• Freshman Jaden Bediako has taken over for Caruso in the starting lineup the last four games and is averaging 7.5 points on 52 percent shooting and 5.5 rebounds.
THE PACIFIC SERIES...
The Broncos have a 98-45 edge in a series that dates to 1905. This is the seventh season the Tigers have been a member (for the second time) of the West Coast Conference, with the Broncos leading 9-4 in that span. But the teams have faced each other every season since 1994-95. The 143 games played are the fifth-most among Santa Clara opponents. Santa Clara has won four of the last six in Leavey Center.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES...
• Last Saturday, the Broncos snapped an eight-game losing streak to Saint Mary's. The last win (71-70) occurred on Feb. 28, 2015. Santa Clara also snapped a five-game skid at Saint Mary's. The last win in UCU Pavilion was a 57-55 triumph on Jan. 9, 2014. The Broncos had only one win in their previous 12 trips to Moraga.
• Santa Clara has shot 55 percent or higher in six games this season. The Broncos shot 58.5 vs. Alcorn State (Dec. 29), 55.8 percent against San Jose State (Dec. 18) and a season-high 59.6 percent vs. Idaho State (Nov. 22).
LOVIN' LEAVEY...
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) January 17, 2020
�� Not only is the current 1️⃣ 6️⃣ game home-winning streak the 3rd-longest in @SCUBroncos history, but it also currently ranks among the best in the @NCAA �� �� #TeamFirst | #StampedeAhead | #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/eYBjC7C0YW
RADIO/LIVE STREAM
Anthony Passarelli (play-by-play) and John Stege (analyst) call the action during the season on radio and through WCC Network at home. All Broncos home games and West Coast Conference contests (not on an ESPN platform, CBS Sports Network or BYUtv) will also be streamed through WCC Network (local blackout restrictions apply for games broadcast over the air). As in the past two seasons, nearly all games can also be heard on either KDOW-AM 1220 or KTRB-AM 860. In addition, any of this year's games can also be heard on the Tunein app. Saturday's game can be heard on KDOW-AM 1220 or through Tunein. Click here for the complete list of 2019-20 radio broadcast outlets.
TICKETS
There are a number of ticket options for 2019-20, which has seven home games remaining. Single-game and game-plan packages are on sale. For questions, contact the Santa Clara Athletics ticket office at (408) 554-4660 or BroncoTickets@scu.edu. The ticket office and doors to Leavey Center open one hour prior to tipoff.
It's #BOGO ticket time for @SantaClaraHoops...
— Santa Clara Broncos (@SCUBroncos) January 17, 2020
For the next 2️⃣ home games, buy one, get one FREE! Team has won last 1️⃣ 6️⃣ games in Leavey Center (3rd-most in school history) and faces @PacificMensBB on Saturday
➡️ https://t.co/XnPha0NEyu#StampedeAhead | #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/2akm4voFQD
FAN EXPERIENCE PACKAGES
Group-ticket options and Fan Experience Packages are available through the Santa Clara ticket office, which is open weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Contact Jesse Moreno, the team leader of sales and service, at (408) 554-4628 or jpmoreno@scu.edu for further details.
����
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) January 18, 2020
While you're at Saturday's game vs. @PacificMensBB, be sure to take advantage of the $ 2⃣ beer special
�� 5 p.m. ▶️ Leavey Center opens
�� 6 p.m. ▶️ Tipoff#StampedeAhead | #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/IEZO2eLRgx
PARKING
Parking is $10 in the main campus parking structure, which is located on Palm Drive through the main campus entrance (500 El Camino Drive). The Leavey Center parking lot, located on Accolti Way off El Camino Real, is reserved for season-ticket holders. Click here for a campus map and parking restrictions.
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