SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half offensive explosion propelled the Santa Clara Broncos to a decisive 93-72 victory over the Oregon State Beavers in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at a sold-out Leavey Center.

The game, a rematch of a 38-point Santa Clara win in December, was competitive for a half before the Broncos unleashed a devastating 55-point second period to pull away. The victory improved Santa Clara’s record to 24-7, while Oregon State fell to 16-15.

The first half was a tightly contested affair defined by physical play and inconsistent shooting. Oregon State’s Johan Munch, a 6-foot-11 forward from Copenhagen, Denmark, established himself early, working inside for 11 first-half points. The Beavers, however, struggled mightily from beyond the arc, missing 12 of their 14 three-point attempts in the opening period. Santa Clara countered with balanced scoring and superior rebounding, particularly on the offensive glass, to maintain a slim 38-33 lead at the intermission.

The complexion of the game changed irrevocably in the opening minutes of the second half. Sparked by their transition game and a significant advantage in second-chance opportunities, the Broncos embarked on a 13-2 run to start the period. The surge was punctuated by an alley-oop dunk from 7-foot-1 center Bukky Oboye of Houston and a relentless attack from guard Brenton Knapper of Charleston, West Virginia. Oregon State had no answer for the sudden surge, as Santa Clara’s offensive rating soared to an elite level.

The most critical sequence, which effectively broke the game open, occurred just before the first media timeout of the second half. Leading 44-39, Santa Clara’s Christian Hammond was fouled on a breakaway, resulting in a flagrant foul call on Oregon State’s Josiah Lake. Hammond sank both free throws, and Santa Clara retained possession. On the ensuing inbounds play, Elijah Mahi of Toronto found Oboye for another alley-oop finish, stretching the lead to 51-39 and sending the crowd of 2,388 into a frenzy. The Beavers called a timeout, but the momentum had permanently shifted.

From that point, Santa Clara’s offense operated with ruthless efficiency. They shot 48.5% from the field in the second half and connected on 7 of 18 three-point attempts. The Broncos also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 20 of 24 attempts for the game. Their 18 offensive rebounds led to 23 second-chance points, a key disparity against an Oregon State team that managed only nine offensive boards.

Knapper led all Santa Clara scorers with 19 points, showcasing his ability to drive and hit from outside. Allen Graves, a 6-foot-9 forward from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, provided a massive spark off the bench with 14 points and several key rebounds in just 12 minutes of action. Oboye finished with 11 points and a block, while Mahi filled the stat sheet with 12 points, five assists and relentless energy. Facilitator Jake Ensminger of Ulm, Germany, directed the offense with seven assists and eight points.

For Oregon State, Munch was a consistent force, finishing with a team-high 19 points. Guard Keziah Ekissi of Saint-Maries-De-La-Mer, France, added 12 points and six assists, but the Beavers’ offensive struggles were too significant to overcome. The team shot just 20 for 46 from the field and a frigid 4 for 20 from three-point range. While they attempted 39 free throws, making 28, they could not keep pace with Santa Clara’s multifaceted and high-volume attack.

Defensively, Santa Clara’s ability to protect the rim with Oboye and bother Oregon State’s perimeter shooters was pivotal. The Broncos also forced 11 turnovers, converting them into 15 points. Oregon State, despite matching Santa Clara’s turnover count and recording nine steals, could not generate enough consistent stops to mount a comeback after the Broncos’ second-half blitz.

The game concluded a regular season series sweep for Santa Clara, who have now won six of their last eight games. Oregon State, which had won two straight coming into the contest, will look to regroup after being overwhelmed by one of the most efficient offensive performances they have faced this season.