Broncos Dominate in Basketball Season Opener

Elijah Maji ’26 puts up a shot in front of Cal Poly Humboldt’s Rob Jenkins (15) during the first half. (Elaine Zhang/The Santa Clara)

Santa Clara University men’s basketball opened their 2025-26 season with a dominating victory over Cal Poly Humboldt on Tuesday, Nov. 4. The Broncos, led by 10th-year head coach Herb Sendek, showcased what is anticipated to be a dynamic roster in their season debut at Leavey Center. 

Sendek’s starting lineup featured Christian Hammond ’28, Brenton Knapper ’26, Elijah Mahi ’26, Jake Ensminger ’27 and Bukky Oboye ’28. The game marked a Bronco debut for five players: Thierry Darlan ’27, Allen Graves ’29, graduate student Juan Reyna, Sash Gavalyugov ’29, and Francis Chukwudebelu ’29.

Darlan, a recent addition to the team, spent two years in the NBA’s G League before signing with the Broncos in September. The 6’6 guard had an impressive night with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds in his college debut.

The game was halted in the opening minutes due to a serious medical injury. The player involved, Brendan Yarusso ’26, is now on the road to recovery, a relief to teammates and fans.

Once play resumed, the Broncos quickly found their rhythm. Ensminger scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half, contributing to a 16-0 run that quickly grew the lead to 34-16. Hammond matched his career-high with 13 points, taking advantage of his new starting role. 

Mahi led all scorers with 14 points and added a career-best two blocks, asserting himself as a two-way player. As a team, the Broncos shot an efficient 47% from the field and held the Lumberjacks to a mere 32% field goal percentage, maintaining a lead of at least 16 points for the rest of the game. 

The defense was especially explosive with 14 steals as a team, the highest since Nov. 5, 2019, against UC Santa Cruz. A 13-0 run to close the game sealed the 30-point victory and set the tone for what many hope will be a thrilling season for the Broncos. 

The Broncos return to action on Friday, Nov. 7, when they host McNeese State at 7 p.m. in Leavey Center.