ESPN Men's Basketball

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Freshman guard Calvin Johnson's 25 points helped lift Santa Clara over Cal Poly 73-58 Saturday night.

Johnson erupted for 16 points in the second half as the Broncos (4-2) overcame a brief deficit to the Mustangs (1-5).

Johnson scored 14 of his second-half points during a 28-12 run that buried Cal Poly. Johnson's previous high was 19 points in the season opener against Cal State Stanislaus.

Senior forward Travis Niesen chipped in 21 points for Santa Clara, which handed the Mustangs their fifth straight loss.

The game was close for a little more than a half.

Santa Clara took a 31-30 advantage into the break but then fell behind 35-31 when Cal Poly's Dawin Whiten opened the second half with a 3-pointer that was followed by Derek Stockhalper's bucket.

The Broncos answered with a 9-0 run that continued with Johnson making three of his six 3-point shots in the decisive burst.

Mustangs coach Kevin Bromley picked up a technical foul with 1:43 to go in the first half for arguing a blocking foul called on Gabe Stephenson. This created a potential four-point play, but Niesen missed both technical free throws before making the two awarded for the personal foul.

Whiten was Cal Poly's leading scorer with 14 points.