Dec. 21, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Mitch Henke scored a career-high 22 points and John Bryant added 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead Santa Clara to an 86-35 win over Notre Dame de Namur on Tuesday night.
Travis Niesen had 15 points and five rebounds for the Broncos (5-4), who had lost three of their previous four games and were coming off an 18-point defeat at North Carolina on Saturday.
Santa Clara shot a season-low 33.8 percent from the floor in the loss to the Tar Heels but had no such problems against the overmatched Argonauts. Sparked by Henke and Bryant, who went a combined 14-for-17, the Broncos shot 58.9 percent against Notre Dame de Namur and dominated on the boards with a 46-20 rebounding advantage.
Pat Menzel scored a season-high 19 points for the Argonauts. Notre Dame de Namur (4-6), which is playing in its first season of Division II after previously competing in the NAIA, was held to a season-low for points and is winless in four road games this year.
Santa Clara led early and was never challenged, using separate 17-0 and 15-0 runs in the first half to put the game out of reach. The Broncos led 44-17 at halftime and continued to pull away in the second half, holding the Argonauts to just three baskets and nine points over the final 14 minutes of the game.
With his team comfortably ahead throughout the game Santa Clara coach Dick Davey substituted liberally and emptied his bench in the second half. Nine Broncos scored in all while no Argonaut player beyond Menzel scored more than five points.
Henke's 3-pointer with 13:57 left to play gave Santa Clara a 61-26 lead, then Bryant scored on consecutive trips down the floor to push the Broncos ahead 75-32. Six straight points from Domineek Daniel, including an emphatic dunk with 1:34 remaining, and a short basket from Cliff Sammet closed out the scoring for Santa Clara.
Henke scored seven points to give the Broncos a 25-4 lead midway through the first half. Santa Clara later scored 15 unanswered points to go ahead by 31.
The Broncos held an overwhelming 29-5 rebounding edge in the first half while holding the Argonauts to just six field goals on 24 percent shooting.
