Santa Clara defeats North Texas 63-60

Santa Clara Edges North Texas in Thrilling Comeback Victory

In a non-conference showdown at the Leavey Center, Santa Clara rallied from a four-point deficit at halftime to outlast visiting North Texas 63-60 on Friday night.

The Broncos' dramatic comeback, capped off by Elijah Mahi's clutch free throws with 1:15 remaining, will be remembered as one of the most thrilling moments of the season so far. The victory marked Santa Clara's first win under new head coach, and it sent a statement to the rest of the conference about their growing depth and resilience.

Trailing 29-33 at halftime, the Broncos' offense sprang back to life in the second half, thanks in large part to Mahi's 9 points on 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc. The sophomore guard's hot streak proved too much for North Texas to contain, as Santa Clara regained the lead with just over a minute left.

Mahi finished the game with 17 points, 2 three-pointers, and an impressive 63.6% field goal percentage. His performance showcased his versatility and ability to make plays in crunch time.

North Texas, meanwhile, struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just one of its seven attempts. Cole Franklin led the team in rebounds and scoring with 8 points and 8 boards, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Broncos' late surge.

The win marked a turning point for Santa Clara, who have looked somewhat inconsistent this season. The victory will give them confidence as they head into their next game, and it should also put some pressure on North Texas, who fall to 0-4.

For North Texas, it was just another tough road loss in an early season schedule that's already proving challenging.