Santa Clara defeats San Francisco 94-73 at War Memorial, strengthening its West Coast Conference standing

Broncos pull away after halftime in San Francisco

Santa Clara defeated San Francisco 94-73 on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center, using a strong second half to turn a competitive first 20 minutes into a decisive West Coast Conference win. The Broncos led 44-38 at halftime, then outscored the Dons 50-35 after the break to finish with a 21-point margin.

Elijah Mahi led all scorers with 30 points, pairing volume with efficiency from the field and the free-throw line. Santa Clara also received 18 points from Christian Hammond and 15 from Thierry Darlan, giving the Broncos multiple scoring options throughout the night.

Key stretch: sustained offense and pressure defense

The game’s balance shifted most clearly after intermission. With possessions essentially even (both teams logged 75 possessions), Santa Clara’s separation came from converting at a much higher rate while forcing San Francisco into empty trips. San Francisco’s turnover rate was markedly higher than Santa Clara’s, a gap that limited the Dons’ ability to keep pace even when their shooting held up.

Santa Clara’s shot profile also translated into consistent scoring. The Broncos’ effective field goal percentage edged San Francisco’s, and the Broncos paired that with a stronger presence on the offensive glass, creating additional opportunities that compounded over the second half.

Dons’ scoring leaders, but not enough stops

San Francisco was led by Ryan Beasley, who finished with 22 points and five assists in 38 minutes. Barry Wang added 19 points on highly efficient shooting, and Tyrone Riley IV scored 13. While those contributions kept the Dons within striking distance early, the team struggled to generate sustained defensive resistance once Santa Clara established rhythm in the half court.

• Halftime score: Santa Clara 44, San Francisco 38
• Second half: Santa Clara 50, San Francisco 35
• Top scorers: Elijah Mahi (30), Ryan Beasley (22)

The matchup again underscored Santa Clara’s offensive balance, with three players reaching at least 15 points and the team maintaining scoring output across both halves.

The result pushed Santa Clara to 23-6 overall and 14-2 in West Coast Conference play, while San Francisco fell to 15-15 overall and 7-10 in league action.