Santa Clara asserted their dominance over San Francisco at the Leavey Center, cruising to an 88-73 victory. Christian Hammond led the charge for the Broncos, scoring 21 points to pace the team. The win marked a strong performance for Santa Clara, who improved to 18-5 on the season.
The first half saw Santa Clara take control, with the Broncos heading into the break up 34-31. However, it was the second half where they truly pulled away, outscoring San Francisco 54-42. Elijah Mahi and Allen Graves provided strong support for Hammond, scoring 18 and 11 points, respectively, while also contributing on the glass. Graves hauled in six rebounds to help the Broncos maintain their advantage on the boards.
For San Francisco, Guillermo Diaz Graham was the standout performer, stuffing the stat sheet with 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Despite his efforts, the Dons were unable to keep pace with Santa Clara's high-powered offense. Ryan Beasley added 11 points for San Francisco, while Junjie Wang chipped in with nine points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Broncos' balanced attack.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The CHD Scout had predicted a Santa Clara win by 9.8 points, and the Broncos exceeded that margin with their 15-point victory. The actual score of 88-73 was somewhat higher than the predicted 80-70, a reflection of the strong offense displayed by both teams. However, it was Santa Clara's ability to pull away in the second half that ultimately decided the outcome.
This win was a crucial Q3 victory for Santa Clara, as they look to bolster their tournament resume. With a current net ranking of 45, the Broncos are solidifying their position as a tournament contender. On the other hand, San Francisco, with a net ranking of 100, faces an uphill battle in their pursuit of a postseason berth. This loss, classified as a Q1 game for the Dons, doesn't significantly harm their resume but highlights the need for them to secure quality wins to stay in the tournament conversation.
The implications of this result are clear: Santa Clara has taken a significant step forward in their tournament aspirations, while San Francisco must regroup and focus on securing key wins to boost their own chances. As the season progresses, the Broncos want to build on this momentum, while the Dons will aim to learn from their mistakes and come out stronger in their upcoming games. With this win, Santa Clara has strengthened their position, and their resume now boasts a notable Q3 victory, a valuable asset as the tournament selection process approaches.