MBB | Gaels Wrap Up Regular Season at Home This Week

Saint Mary's hosts Portland and No. 1 Gonzaga for their final two games of the regular season.

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's will play their final two home games of the season within the friendly confines of McKeon Pavilion this week as they host Portland and No. 1 Gonzaga.

GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 30 vs. Portland (7-22, 0-14 WCC)
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 28 at 8:00 p.m. PST
Location: McKeon Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
TV: NBCSN California
Radio: https://tunein.com/radio/Saint-Marys-IMG-Sports-Network-s280256/
Live stats: https://smcgaels.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 67-30 (Last meeting: 2/17/18, A, SMC 73 — UP 61)

Game No. 31 vs. No. 1 Gonzaga (27-2, 14-0 WCC)
Date/Time: Saturday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. PST
Location: McKeon Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
TV: ESPN
Radio: https://tunein.com/radio/Saint-Marys-IMG-Sports-Network-s280256/
Live stats: https://smcgaels.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 30-67 (Last meeting: 2/9/19, A, SMC 46 — GU 94)

ABOUT PORTLAND
Thursday's contest between the Gaels and Pilots will be the first time the two schools have played each other this season in accordance with the WCC's new conference schedule format. Portland is in the midst of a 15-game losing streak and have not won a conference game yet. The Pilots most recently played on the road against Pepperdine and lost by just six.

UP's leading scorer is sophomore Marcus Shaver Jr. who is averaging 15.0 points per contest on 40 percent shooting. JoJo Walker is second on the team in points at 11.8 per game and is also averaging a team-high 3.5 assists.

The Pilots rank near the bottom in most statistical categories around the WCC but are second in blocks per game with 3.9. Theo Akwuba is third among all players in the conference with 1.5 rejections per contest.

Saint Mary's has won seven straight against Portland and 16 of the last 17 matchups. The Gaels have not lost to the Pilots in McKeon Pavilion since 2006, a two point overtime loss.

ABOUT GONZAGA
The No. 1 Zags are on the opposite side of the spectrum as the Pilots as they've won 18 straight and are 17-0 in WCC play. Saturday's contest will be the final conference game of the season for Gonzaga who clinched their seventh straight regular season title last week.

In their last two games, the Bulldogs beat Pepperdine and BYU by a combined 62 points on their home court. GU's average margin of victory in conference play this year is over 25 points.

The Zags reclaimed the top national ranking spot on Monday for the second time this season. Gonzaga owns the top NET ranking and is second in KenPom as well. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Zags as a No. 1 seed in his NCAA Tournament projected bracket.

GU has three scorers' among the WCC's top-10 and are led by Rui Hachimura who is averaging 20.5 points in his junior season. Brandon Clarke has been a critical addition for Gonzaga this season after transferring from San Jose State as he ranks in the conference's top-3 in rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage.

In their first meeting of the season, the Bulldogs beat SMC by 48 points in Spokane. Saint Mary's has defeated Gonzaga at least once in two of the past three seasons, including twice in 2016. Saturday will also be the Gaels' Senior Night as they honor Jordan Hunter, the team's lone senior.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Jordan Hunter: C; 6' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#1 Jordan Hunter
: 6' 10"; Senior
: C

Players Mentioned

#1 Jordan Hunter

Players Mentioned

#1 Jordan Hunter