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Santa Clara Outpaces Xavier, 87–68
By
Musketeer Madness,
11/10/2025
Roddie Anderson III poured in a game-high 29 points, but Xavier couldn’t overcome a sluggish first half as Santa Clara dominated on both ends, handing the Musketeers an 87–68 loss Monday night at the Cintas Center. With the loss, Xavier falls to 2-1 on the season.
The Broncos (3–0) set the tone early, opening a double-digit lead midway through the first half and never trailing. Santa Clara shot 55% from the floor and 38% from beyond the arc, while Xavier struggled to find rhythm, hitting just 34% of its shots for the game.
Elijah Mahi led Santa Clara with 18 points and four assists, while Christian Hammond added 15 points, three assists, and two steals. The Broncos’ balanced attack also featured double-digit efforts from Sash Gavalyugov (10 points), Brenton Knapper (10 points), and Allen Graves, who posted a near double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Santa Clara’s relentless interior play proved decisive — the Broncos outscored Xavier 52–22 in the paint and held a 42–33 rebounding edge. The visitors’ bench also produced 30 points compared to just 5 for the Musketeers.
Xavier trailed 39–20 at the half but briefly showed life after intermission, fueled by Anderson’s scoring outburst. The junior guard scored 25 of his 29 points in the second half and went 12-of-16 from the free-throw line. Forward Tre Carroll added 21 points and four rebounds, while Filip Borovicanin chipped in nine points and three assists.
Despite a late 10–0 run, the Musketeers couldn’t close the gap as Santa Clara continued to execute efficiently, shooting 62% in the second half.
Xavier travels on the road to take on Iowa on Friday, November 14. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
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