AUDIO: Caruso Halftime Interview

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Santa Clara men's basketball's record remains unblemished after defeating Fresno State, 88-65, on Tuesday behind a balanced scoring attack with six players in double figures.

Josip Vrankic paced the Broncos (6-0) with 17 points and 10 rebounds to record his third double-double of the season. Keshawn Justice also had a double-double, his second of the year, with a season-high 15 points and a career-best 11 rebounds.

Giordan Williams added a season-high 13 points while Jaden Bediako and Guglielmo Caruso chipped in with 12 each for Santa Clara, which shot a season-best 53 percent from the floor and 73 percent from the free-throw line.

Garrett Cook was the only Fresno Pacific player in double-figure scoring with 14 while Sean Nealon-Lino had nine.

The Broncos, who held Fresno Pacific (0-0) to 36 percent shooting from the field, took control of the game from the opening tip scoring the first 10 points and never looked back using their size advantage to outrebound Fresno Pacific, 44-25.  SCU also had a decided edge in the paint, outscoring FPU by 24 and doubling the number of free throws made (22-to-11).

In the middle of the opening half, the Broncos used a 15-0 run, including baskets by six players, to open their biggest lead at 39-15 and entered the intermission with a 15-point cushion.

The scrappy Sunbirds, who play in the PacWest Conference in Division II, whittled down that lead by connecting on 8 of 16 3-pointers in the opening half.

In a game serving as an exhibition contest for Fresno Pacific, the Sunbirds cut the lead to 49-39 with 14 minutes remaining on Aamondae Coleman's layup but Santa Clara answered back with four straight free throws between Justice and Caruso.

Caruso's inside bucket pushed the advantage to 62-45 with 10:50 on the clock and the Sunbirds were never closer that 15 the rest of the way.

The Broncos shared the ball throughout the game, registering a season-high 23 assists on 29 field goals.

Mitchell had a career-best seven assists, including five in the first half, and Justice matched his career-high with six assists (also at LMU, Feb. 28, 2019).

NOTES
• Santa Clara and Fresno Pacific met for the first time.
• The Broncos played their second home game at Kaiser Permanente Arena due to COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara County.
• Santa Clara won for the 23rd time in its last 28 home games.
• The Broncos have won their last 11 nonconference games overall and 22 nonleague home contests, the longest stretch in school history. The last overall loss was a 97-68 road defeat at the hands of Nevada on Dec. 4, 2019. Idaho State was the last nonconference foe to knock off the Broncos in Leavey Center, escaping with a 68-66 victory on Dec. 7, 2018.
• Christian Carlyle (concussion protocol) and Jalen Williams (foot) missed their second straight game.
• Josip Vrankic recorded the 14th double-double of his career, including third of the season, while Keshawn Justice recorded his second career double-double, both coming this season.
• Jaden Bediako had a season-high four blocks and has two or more in five of the six games.

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Check out the @HerculesTires Strong Plays of the Game from Tuesday's victory over Fresno Pacific!#TeamFirst #StampedeAhead #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/OgyB2qxq8d

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) December 17, 2020

��️ Hear from head coach @HerbSendek on tonight's victory over Fresno Pacific!

Postgame interview presented by @ROATweets.#TeamFirst #StampedeAhead #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/duOKIeyyua

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) December 16, 2020

��️ Here's @tiggo3justice on tonight's victory over Fresno Pacific!

Postgame interview presented by @ROATweets.#TeamFirst #StampedeAhead #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/czmGYUASLH

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) December 16, 2020

NEXT UP
The Broncos face San Jose State on Friday in Santa Cruz, California. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. in Kaiser Permanente Arena. The Spartans will be the home team.

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