College basketball season starts Monday in Santa Clara. The Broncos host Towson at the Leavey Center, with tipoff at 7:02 p.m. Pacific. The game streams on ESPN+.
The matchup
Santa Clara was picked to win the WCC, getting nine of 10 first-place votes in the league's preseason coaches poll. Guards Jake Ensminger and Sash Gavalyugov were named to the WCC preseason team. More on the poll is in our preseason story.
Towson went 19-15 last season and reached the Coastal Athletic Association semifinals for the fifth year in a row. The Tigers' returning players include sophomore Jaquan Womack, an All-CAA preseason honorable mention, and junior Caleb Embeya. Two newcomers stand out: Zion Stanford, a preseason All-CAA second-team pick, and Ben Roseborough, a transfer from San Jose State who scored 12 points a game for the Spartans.
This is the first time the two programs have played. After Monday, Towson goes on to play at Utah on Thursday, Nov. 5.
If you go
Santa Clara recommends fans park in the main garage off Palm Drive near Stevens Stadium, where event parking costs $10. Leavey Center concessions only take cards and mobile payments.