AUDIO: Bediako Halftime Interview on KDOW-AM 1220
SAN FRANCISCO – Santa Clara men's basketball was unable to carry the momentum built at home into its first West Coast Conference road game.
Charles Minlend tallied a career-high 25 points, Jordan Ratinho scored 11 and Josh Kunen had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds for San Francisco which cruised to an 80-61 win over the Broncos on Thursday.
DJ Mitchell had a career-high 21 points and Trey Wertz scored 13 for the Broncos (14-3, 1-1) who had their six-game winning streak snapped after shooting a season-low 33 percent from the floor.
Jamaree Bouyea also had 10 points for the Dons (12-6, 1-2) who suffered 16 turnovers, but out-rebounded the Broncos 45-26 and held a 40-22 edge on points in the paint.
After San Francisco pushed the lead to 17 points early in the second half, the Broncos made a push using an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to 44-37 with 13:28 on the clock.
But the Dons, who shot 53 percent from the field, nailed eight straight from the floor by six different players to increase the lead to 64-46 with 7:24 left. The Broncos were never closer than 12 the remainder of the contest.
The Dons were able to overcome 10 turnovers in the opening half by controlling the glass (25-11) and holding the Broncos to 31 percent shooting from the floor.
After trading leads early, San Francisco used a 11-2 run to pull ahead 29-17 with 4 minutes left.
Santa Clara was unable to cash in on the miscues by the Dons, scoring only six points off turnovers.
Mitchell was the lone bright spot in the first 20 minutes with 11 points though he picked up three fouls.
After shooting more than 50 percent in the previous four games and connecting on a league-best 49 percent from the floor entering the game, the Broncos had just four field goals in the first 16 minutes of the Bay Area rivalry.
Santa Clara has won all 14 games at home, but is now 0-3 on the season away from Leavey Center
NOTES
• The series began in 1908 and the Broncos hold a 116-110 lead. The 226 meetings are tied for the most against any Santa Clara opponent (also Saint Mary's). They have split the last eight meetings. The Dons have won six of the last seven at home.
• San Francisco shot 52.7 percent from the floor, which was the second-highest total by a Santa Clara opponent this season (53.1 by Nevada, Dec. 4).
• The Broncos had seven steals in the opening 8 minutes of the game, but just two the rest of the way.
• DJ Mitchell (21) reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time in the last seven games.
• Guglielmo Caruso (lower right leg) was injured against Alcorn State (Dec. 29) and missed his second straight game. He is out indefinitely.
• The Dons registered 12 blocked shots, tying the record for the most by an opponent in school history. It has occurred three times prior (last: Oklahoma, Nov. 27, 1983).
NEXT UP
The Broncos continue their stretch of three in a row on the road on Saturday facing Saint Mary's. Tipoff set for 5 p.m.
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