ARCATA, Calif. – Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball will hit the road for a big test this week, traveling south to face Division I Santa Clara University on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. PT at the Leavey Center. This will mark the first of seven games Humboldt will compete in on the road before they take the court for conference play in December.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lumberjacks continued their preseason preparations with a strong showing at home against Santa Rosa Junior College. Humboldt put together a balanced offensive effort, with multiple players scoring in double figures, and showcased improved defensive communication en route to a 89-80 victory and 2-0 finish in preseason scrimmages. The game provided valuable experience for a new roster as the 'Jacks continue to refine their identity and build chemistry ahead of the regular season.
BATTLING THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara (0-0, 0-0 WCC) is coming off a 20+ win season and enters Tuesday's matchup looking to fine-tune its lineup before the start of competition. The Broncos return several key contributors from last year's squad that advanced to the WCC Tournament quarterfinals. Tuesday's match offers the Lumberjacks a high-level test against a talented program that emphasizes speed, spacing, and disciplined execution.
"The Broncos, picked to finish fourth in the annual West Coast Conference Preseason Poll, features a mix of new and familiar faces for 2025-26. Returners from last year's squad include preseason All-WCC selection Elijah Mahi, Jake Ensminger and Brenton Knapper while the newcomers consists of talented transfers (Sash Gavalyugov, Gehrig Normand and Chris Tadjo), freshmen (KJ Cochran, Brad Longcor III, Francisc Chukwudebelu and Noah Badibanga) and former G Leaguer Thierry Darlan.
Tuesday's game will be the eighth overall meeting between the Broncos and Lumberjacks. Santa Clara won all seven of the previous matchups and are looking to extend their winning streak in season openers to seven straight. Overall, SCU is 8-1 in season-openers under Sendek's direction." - SCU Athletics
For Humboldt, the game serves as an opportunity to start the season off on the right foot, measure progress, establish tempo on both ends of the floor, and continue building confidence as they ramp up for conference play in December.
The Lumberjacks have yet to beat the Broncos in their history, but have not faced since 1999.
HOW TO TUNE IN
Tuesday vs. Santa Clara: Watch on ESPN+ - Listen on ESPN Radio - Follow Live Stats - Tickets
UP NEXT
Following Tuesday's grudge match, Cal Poly Humboldt will take part in the West Region Tipoff Challenge in San Rafael, Calif. on Nov. 14-15, facing Western Washington and Dominican on back-to-back nights.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on Apple iOS or Google Android, and follow the Lumberjacks on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.
Instagram: @humboldt.athletics
Twitter/X: @HumboldtJacks
Facebook: Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks
