Jan. 14, 2001

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara men's basketball team opens its home West Coast Conference schedule against two familiar rivals this week with games against Saint Mary's College and the University of San Francisco at the Leavey Center. The two games will be the first of the season in the Leavey Center with SCU students on campus with school in session.

The Broncos are scheduled to face Saint Mary's College on Thursday while the USF contest is on tap for Saturday. Both games will tip at 7:30 p.m. in the new Leavey Center on the Santa Clara University campus.

Following Thursday's contest against the Gaels, the men's basketball team will be available in a post-game autograph session. Free Bronco basketball posters will be available for all fans attending the game. On Saturday, the athletic department's "Read to Exceed" program will be recognized and the first 200 kids in attendance will receive a special classroom pencil package.

Saturday's game will also be preceded by a 3:30 alumni game. Over 30 former Bronco greats are scheduled to participate in the renewed annual reunion. The event is free to the public and will be held in the Leavey Center.

Live coverage of both games will be provided on the radio as well as the Internet. The radio broadcast can be heard locally on KBZS 1220 AM or by clicking here. The games will also be available via FANSlive, a real-time live official statistics feed that is linked off the exclusive website for Santa Clara athletics at www.SantaClaraBroncos.com.

Santa Clara is 9-8 on the season and 1-1 in the WCC following Saturday's 78-70 win at Loyola Marymount. Junior transfer Steve Ross poured-in a career-high 22 points and grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds to lead the Broncos. Freshman Kyle Bailey tied his career-high with 17 points in Santa Clara's fifth-straight win over LMU.

Senior Brian Jones leads Santa Clara in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game. He is seventh on the all-time Bronco scoring list with 1,489 points and is among the top ten in 10 different career statistical categories. He needs just 51 assists in the remaining games this season to surpass former Bronco great Steve Nash as the all-time leader in that category.

Saint Mary's College is 2-13 on the season and 0-2 in the WCC following back-to-back losses last weekend to Portland and Gonzaga. The Gaels dropped a 102-48 decision to Gonzaga on Saturday despite a 21-point effort by Jovan Harris. Harris leads SMC in scoring, averaging 13.3 points per game.

San Francisco is 7-10 on the season and 0-2 in the league following a narrow 74-73 defeat at the hands of Portland on Saturday. The Dons were led by sophomore Darrell Tucker's 32 points and 15 rebounds. USF will play at San Diego on Thursday.

Tickets are available for both games by calling the athletic ticket office at 408/554-4660 or by clicking here.