Santa Clara shoots lights out for rare win over No. 16 Gonzaga

Field Level Media|published: Sat 18th January, 23:57 2025

Jan 18, 2025; Spokane, Washington, USA; Santa Clara Broncos guard Tyeree Bryan (1) dunks the ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Khalif Battle (99) in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Tyeree Bryan established career highs of 35 points and seven 3-pointers and Santa Clara beat No. 16 Gonzaga on the road for the first time in 18 years by posting a 103-99 win on Saturday night in West Coast Conference play at Spokane, Wash.

Adama Bal scored 20 points and Christoph Tilly added 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting as the Broncos (13-7, 5-2 WCC) prevailed in Spokane for the first time since Feb. 12, 2007. Camaron Tongue had 11 points for the Broncos, who made 18 of 38 3-point attempts and shot 53.7 percent overall.

Nolan Hickman matched his career high of 24 points and made a career-best six treys for the Bulldogs (14-6, 5-2).

Graham Ike scored 21 points and Ryan Nembhard added 16 points and a career-high 15 assists for Gonzaga. Braden Huff also scored 16 points, and Ben Gregg added 13.

Gonzaga shot 54.5 percent from the field, going 10-for-28 from 3-point range. The Bulldogs have dropped two straight games.

Santa Clara appeared to be in good shape when Tilly's layup pushed its lead to 93-80 with 4:27 left in the game.

But Hickman buried two 3-pointers during a 10-0 burst as Gonzaga moved within 93-90 with 2:35 to play.

The margin was three with under a minute remaining before Bryan drilled a corner 3-pointer to give the Broncos a 98-92 lead with 41.9 seconds left.

Hickman hit a 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds left to bring the Bulldogs within 102-98 before the comeback bid fell short.

Bal and Bryan each drained two 3-pointers during a 12-4 run that allowed the Broncos to take a 65-57 lead with 13:41 remaining in the second half.

Gonzaga pulled within 66-64 on Huff's three-point play with 12:13 left before Santa Clara answered with a 10-4 spurt. Carlos Stewart banked in a trey to make the Broncos 7-for-7 from 3-point range in the second half and give his side a 76-68 advantage with 10:23 remaining.

A three-point play by Nembhard allowed the Bulldogs to move within 76-72 with 9:43 left.

But Santa Clara received 3-pointers from Bryan, Tongue, Bal and Jake Ensminger in a span of less than three minutes to up its lead to 88-76 with 6:17 left to play.

Hickman scored 15 first-half points to help the Bulldogs lead 45-44 at the break. Bryan had 18 points in the half for Santa Clara.

--Field Level Media