Santa Clara Edges North Texas 76-71
Brad Longcor III scored the final seven points as Santa Clara completed a comeback win over North Texas in Denton.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Basketball
Santa Clara defeated North Texas 76-71 on Wednesday after trailing 41-34 at halftime. Thierry Darlan scored 16 points off the bench, and Chris Tadjo added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Broncos.
Why it matters
The win moves Santa Clara to 4-0 on the season and gives the Broncos a lead-in result for a two-game stretch of home and road play. It also shows the team's ability to rally from a halftime deficit against an opponent that featured strong scoring from both starters and reserves.
Santa Clara overcame a 41-34 halftime deficit to win 76-71, with Darlan (16 points, nine rebounds) and Castillo (13 points, 5-of-7 shooting, 3-of-4 from three) leading the way. North Texas got 18 points from Ndour and 15 from Robinson, but could not overcome the second-half rally.
The players
Santa Clara Broncos
The men's basketball program of Santa Clara University, competing in NCAA Division I and based in Santa Clara, California.
North Texas Mean Green
The men's basketball program of the University of North Texas, competing in NCAA Division I and based in Denton, Texas.
The details
Darlan scored 12 points in the first half to keep Santa Clara within range, and Brad Longcor III scored the final seven points to close out the five-point victory. Stevenson added 14 points, four assists and two steals for North Texas in the loss.
Timeline
Wednesday: Santa Clara defeats North Texas 76-71 in Denton.
Saturday: Santa Clara hosts New Mexico, and North Texas plays South Alabama.
Season Trajectory
Early-season non-conference games in NCAA Division I men's basketball often set the tone for conference seeding and postseason resumes, and Santa Clara's 4-0 start adds a credible early marker. The result also reflects how a bench-driven scoring balance can carry teams through the first weeks of the calendar.
Fantasy and bracket watchers can track Darlan and Tadjo as Santa Clara's key bench and frontcourt contributors heading into Saturday's home game. North Texas fans have a Saturday matchup against South Alabama to measure whether Ndour and Robinson can sustain their scoring.
The takeaway
Balanced scoring and a strong second half can overturn a halftime deficit, as Santa Clara showed in its 76-71 win. Early-season results like this one often shape how teams are viewed heading into conference play.
What happens next
Santa Clara hosts New Mexico on Saturday, and North Texas plays South Alabama the same day.
Further reading
For more college hoops coverage, see the Basketball section.
