SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Behind a sensational debut from newcomer Brandin Podziemski and a career-best day from sophomore Carlos Stewart, Santa Clara men's basketball started the 2022-23 campaign on high note, holding off Eastern Washington to win their season opener 84-72 on Monday evening inside the Leavey Center.
Podziemski, a transfer from Illinois, finished with a game-high 30 points in his Santa Clara debut, finishing 9-of-20 from the field with two 3-pointers and 10-for-13 mark at the charity stripe. The sophomore also pulled down nine rebounds and tallied five steals in the eye-popping performance.
Making just his third career start, Stewart also turned heads in the opener turning in a 20-point, five rebound, two steal performance. The sophomore from Baton Rouge came up big for the Broncos when they needed him most down the stretch, scoring on three possessions inside the final seven minutes to preserve the lead and hold off a furious Eastern Washington comeback bid.
Both Podziemski and Stewart were Gatorade Players of the Year in high school for their respective states of Wisconsin and Louisiana - the first such duo in program history.
Graduate transfer Carlos Marshall, Jr. also impressed in his Bronco debut, finishing with 12 points and four rebounds. Parker Braun had one of the best overall outings of his short SCU career as well with eight points, nine rebounds and career-high tying five assists. Camaron Tongue knocked down a career-high two 3-pointers, both in the first half, and pulled down six rebounds in just 14 minutes of action off of the bench.
Although the Broncos came through with the victory, it was a less than stellar night offensively with SCU shooting just 37 percent (28-75) from the floor, including a 9-for-28 clip from 3-point range. The difference came in Santa Clara's lockdown defensive effort in which they suffocated Eastern Washington's 3-point shooting, holding the Eagles to just five total triples for the night (5-of-21). The Broncos also forced 16 turnovers that resulted in 24 points and won the rebounding battle 50-40.
Eastern Washington (0-1) finished the night 27-of-64 (42.2 percent) from the floor and was led by Angelo Allegri's 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. He knocked down four of the Eagles' five 3-pointers.
With the win, Santa Clara (1-0) turns their attention towards Thursday's 7 p.m. tip against Georgia Southern.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
�� Coach Sendek sits down with @PassarelliVoice to share his thoughts on tonight's win#StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/cWs9ap6cX7
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) November 8, 2022
Drop 30 in your debut and there's a pretty good chance we're going to ask you to jump on the postgame show
— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) November 8, 2022
�� @brandinpodziem2 #StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/MQpk6ckN5q
GAME NOTES
- Podziemski and Stewart are the first Bronco duo to score 20-points in the same game since Jalen Williams (24) and PJ Pipes (21) did so against Portland in last year's WCC Tournament victory.
- Podziemski is the third Bronco in the last two seasons to tally a 30-point game. Jalen Williams (vs. Hawai'i) and Josip Vrankic (vs. Portland) each scored 30 last season.
- Podziemski's five steals are the most since Jalen Williams totaled the same against UC Irvine on Nov. 27, 2021.
- The Broncos have now won four-straight season openers.
- Santa Clara is 15-4 in home games dating back to start of the 2021-22 season.
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