SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The trio of Brandin Podziemski, Carlos Stewart and Keshawn Justice combined for 60 of Santa Clara's 72 points as the Broncos held off Sacramento State to pick up their fourth-straight victory and improve to 7-2 on the season. The game was the first of nine-straight games that will be played in the Leavey Center throughout the month of December. 

Podziemski scored a game-high 27 points, going 10-of-19 from the floor and 5-of-9 from distance. The sophomore also had six rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in the winning effort. Stewart tallied a new career-high with 22 points, his second game of 20-plus points on the year, and also dished out three assists. The Baton Rouge product was 8-of-13 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Justice shook off a slow start to finish with 11 points to go with six rebounds, five assists, a steal and an assist. 

After a sluggish opening first half that saw both teams shoot less than 37 percent from the floor, the Broncos put together a stronger offensive effort in the second half, shooting 51.6 percent in the final 20 minutes. Leading by two at 26-24 to start the second, the Broncos quickly saw their lead taken away from them as the Hornets (3-5) scored five unanswered to take a one-point lead less than two minutes into the half. Sacramento State built thier lead to as much as five midway through the period before Stewart and Podziemski knocked down 3-balls on back-to-back possessions to regain the lead at 50-49. 

With the score tied at 56 with 4:39 to play, Podziemski once again turned to the 3-ball to give the Broncos the lead. The triple sparked a 10-0 run in which the Illinois transfer accounted for eight points to take a 66-56 advantage with two minutes remaining. Sacramento State scored the next five points to cut it back to a two-possession game with one minute to play, but that was as close as they would get. The Hornets were forced to commit three late fouls in the final 21 seconds, and Santa Clara responded by knocking down all six free throws to close out the game with a 72-65 victory. 

The Broncos finished the night with a 44.3 percent scoring clip (27-of-61), hit seven 3-pointers and was 11-for-14 at the charity stripe. Sacramento State was held to 40.6 percent (26-of-64) from the floor, 6-of-22 from 3-point (27.3) and was 7-for-11 at the free throw line. For just the second time this season, Santa Clara lost the battle of boards with the Hornets pulling down 40 rebounds to the Broncos' 34. 

Zach Chappell led the way for Sacramento State with 17 points while Callum McRae posted a double-double of 15 points, 14 rebounds. 

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

Coach Sendek discussed the 72-65 victory with @PassarelliVoice #StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/UdZWjyssDg

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) December 4, 2022

After scoring a game-high 27 points with 5 triples, @brandinpodziem2 also joined the postgame show with @PassarelliVoice #StampedeAhead pic.twitter.com/Tx8c54riQw

— Santa Clara Men's Basketball (@SantaClaraHoops) December 4, 2022

GAME NOTES

• Parker Braun pulled down a team-best nine rebounds and tallied three blocks. 
• Herb Sendek picked up career win 517, tying him with Rick Majerus for 66th-most all-time in NCAA D1.