AUDIO: Thompson Halftime Interview on KDOW-AM 1220 (Part One)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara men's basketball rode the dominant performance of Guglielmo Caruso and balanced scoring to remain perfect at home this season.
Caruso scored a career-high 25 points on 11-for-14 shooting to pace five Broncos in double figures and help Santa Clara to an 89-84 wire-to-wire victory over crosstown rival San José State on Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-11 sophomore also pulled down a team-high tying six rebounds and blocked three shots before fouling out with 1:29 left in the game and the Broncos holding a nine-point lead.
Santa Clara (11-2) sank nine of 12 free throws in the final 75 seconds, including four straight by Keshawn Justice to stave off a furious rally by the Spartans (3-9) who shot 53 percent from the floor in the second half, but suffered their seventh-straight loss.
Justice had a career-high 20 points, Trey Wertz dished out a season-high nine assists to go along with 10 points. DJ Mitchell and Tahj Eaddy each posted 10 points off the bench.
San José State also had five players score in double figures, led by Zach Chapell with a career-high 20. Seneca Knight had 15, including 9-for-10 from the line, Ralph Agee and Anigwe added 13 points each and Brae Ivey chipped in 11.
Trailing 41-26 at the half, San José State (3-9) came out of the intermission on a 9-2 run to cut the Broncos lead under double digits. However, Caruso scored five straight to push the lead to 48-35.
After the Broncos, who are now 11-0 at home this season, extended the lead to a game-high 17 points on Mitchell's 3-pointer at the 13:39 mark, Anigwe scored eight straight including back-to-back 3-pointers.
The Spartans, who held a 36-25 rebound edge, stayed within striking distance by scoring 58 points in the second half, but the Broncos were able to answer both from the field and at the line the remainder of the way. The final margin was as close as the Spartans got in the second half.
For the game, Santa Clara shot 56 percent from the floor and made 24 of 32 from the line, compared to 46 percent from the field and 23-for-31 at the line for the Spartans.
Santa Clara jumped out to an early lead connecting on their first six field goal attempts to open the game with a 13-3 lead. The Broncos forced turnovers in the each of San José State's first three possessions that led to seven points.
The Broncos built the halftime lead behind 18 points by Caruso with much of the damage in the paint where they scored 26.
RECORD-MATCHING WIN
Santa Clara matched the school record for consecutive home wins to start a season. The Broncos won all 11 home games in 1967-68 and were victorious in the first 11 the following season.
HOME COOKING
Santa Clara has won its last 15 nonconference home games. The Broncos have won their last 13 home games overall, dating to last season. That mark is tied for the second-longest stretch in the history of Toso Pavilion/Leavey Center (since 1975-76). The record is 14 in a row, which began with a 79-72 win over Marquette (Dec. 29, 1996) and ended with an 85-75 loss to San Francisco (Jan. 25, 1998). The school record for consecutive home wins is 22 which occurred between the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons.
HIGHLIGHTS | Check out the plays that helped the Broncos dispatch crosstown rival San José State Wednesday night! #TeamFirst #StampedeAhead #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/C4YcxPihE8
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) December 19, 2019
NOTES
• The Broncos lead the all-time series 82-30 with victories in eight of the last 10 matchups. The teams met for the 25th consecutive season (since 1995-96) and in 37 of the last 38 years (since 1982-83). The 112 games played are the sixth highest total of any Santa Clara opponent and most against a nonconference foe.
• Santa Clara has won 11 of its first 13 games for just the second time in the last 31 years and fourth in the last 51 (11-2 in 2012-13; 11-2 in 1988-89; 12-2 in 1977-78).
• For the third-straight game, Keshawn Justice and Jalen Williams were in the starting lineup along with Josip Vrankic, Guglielmo Caruso and Trey Wertz. Vrankic, Caruso and Wertz have started all 13 games.
• Guglielmo Caruso had career highs in points (25), field goals (11) and field-goal attempts (14).
• The Broncos were whistled for a season-high 28 fouls (previous high: 26 at Stanford, Nov. 16), including 18 in the second half. They also attempted 32 free throws, the second most of the year (37 vs Cal Poly, Nov. 12).
• San Jose State's 58 points in the final 20 minutes were the most surrendered by the Broncos in any half this season (previous high: 53 by Nevada in the first half, Dec. 4).
• The 89 points by the Broncos were their most this season against a Division I opponent (87 vs. Southeast Missouri, Nov. 29).
• Santa Clara shot 55.8 percent from the floor, which was the fifth time this season exceeding 55 percent. The Broncos shot a season-best 59.6 percent against Idaho State (Nov. 22).
• Keshawn Justice attempted 10 free throws (making eight), the most by a Santa Clara player this season.
NEXT UP
The Broncos are in the midst of a season-long six-game homestand. They face Mississippi Valley State on Friday with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
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