Nov. 19, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Brandon Rohe triggered a 10-0 Santa Clara run in the first half with a pair of three-point jump shots as the Broncos went on to defeat Cal State-Stanislaus 97-53 in both team's season-openers Saturday at the Leavey Center.
Santa Clara returns to action Tuesday when it travels to UC Irvine for a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Anteaters. The Broncos return home Saturday, November 26 to play Pacific. Tickets to the 7 p.m. contest are available by calling 408/554-4660 or clicking here.
The Broncos out-rebounded Stanislaus by a 61-41 margin. The Broncos' rebound total was equaled the fifth-highest single-game total in school history. A contributing factor to that was Stanislaus' 9-for-47 performance from behind the three-point arch. The Warriors easily eclipsed the highest total attempts total ever for a Bronco opponent in a single game.
Santa Clara's defense forced the visiting Warriors from Turlock to miss their first 11 shots and held Stanislaus scorless for the first eight minutes of the game. The Warriors clawed back into the game, down only 19-17 before Rohe began his barrage. Rohe finished with 11 points in 23 minutes in his first game since suffering a back injury in February, 2004.
A pair of freshmen led the Broncos in scoring with 6'-2" guard Calvin Johnson (Morton, Texas) scoring 19 points, 11 in the second half. A former all-state quarterback as a prep, Johnson shot well from long-range, making 5-of-8 three-point attempts and shooting 6-for-10 overall.
Also making his first collegiate appearance, 6'-10" center John Bryant, in only 11 minutes of action, scored 10 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the game's only double-double.
All 11 Broncos who played scored at least two points. Sophomore Mitch Henke chipped-in 15 points and seven rebounds, while junior center Sean Deison added nine points and a career-high tying 10 boards.
Santa Clara took advantage of a Warriors 0-for-6 cold spell on the start of the second half and went on an 11-0 run that extended a 38-23 halftime lead to 49-23.
The Broncos are counting on Rohe to have a breakout season because they lost their backcourt of Kyle Bailey and Doron Perkins. They ranked among the top three scorers for a Santa Clara team that finished tied for third last season in the West Coast Conference with a record of 7-7, 15-16.
Forward Travis Niesen, Santa Clara's leading returning scorer, finished with 14 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes.
