MORAGA, Calif. — Having won three contests in a row and four of their last five games, the Gaels (18-4, 5-2 WCC) will look to continue their success this week as they host Portland before traveling to Provo to take on BYU.
GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 23 vs. Portland (9-13, 1-6 WCC)
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: University Credit Union Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
TV: WCC Network (Kate Scott, Dan Belluomini)
Radio: Tune In (Alex Jensen, Dave Lewis)
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 68-30 (Last meeting: 2/28/19, H, SMC 65 — UP 48)
Game No. 24 vs. BYU (15-7, 4-3 WCC)
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Marriott Center (Provo, Utah)
TV: ESPN2 (Dave Flemming, Dan Dickau)
Radio: Tune In (Alex Jensen)
WATCH |
LISTEN |
LIVE STATS
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 14-14 (Last meeting: 1/9/20, H, SMC 87 — BYU 84 OT)
ABOUT PORTLAND
The Pilots have struggled in conference play this season as they have only recorded one win against a WCC team thus far. Portland took the 76-65 victory over USF at home on Jan. 4 but has since lost five contests in a row including three on the road. Following their matchup against the Gaels, the Pilots will play Santa Clara for the first time this season on Saturday at home.
Isaiah White has been leading Portland offensively as he averages a team-high 12.0 points per contest along with 28 steals. Jacob Tryon has been influential on the defensive side as he is recording a team-leading 5.2 rebounds a game as well as has collected 21 blocks. Tryon has also been improving his scoring over the last few games as he recently tied his season-high 15 points in Portland's last matchup versus Pepperdine.
The Gaels and the Pilots have yet to meet this season, however it was Saint Mary's who took the win last season when the teams faced off in Moraga. In fact, SMC has won the last eight contests against UP dating back to March 2015. Over the last ten years and 25 matchups between the two teams, Portland has only won four times. Saint Mary's has not lost a home game against Portland since January of 2006 when the Pilots won 74-72 in overtime.
ABOUT BYU
The Cougars had a strong start to conference play as they went 3-1 through their first four games, holding LMU to just 38 points in their WCC opener and only losing once to Saint Mary's in overtime on the road. BYU has since lost twice, once against Gonzaga in which the Bulldogs won by 23 points and once to USF when the Dons escaped with a one-point victory. Prior to hosting the Gaels on Saturday, BYU will welcome the Waves to town for a contest.
Yoeli Childs has been a key piece of the Cougars' offense this season as he is averaging a team-high 21.2 points per game and a team-best 9.7 rebounds. Childs recorded a season-best 29 points in BYU's loss to Utah on December 4 and has since gotten within three points during two other contests. Jake Toolson is also an important offensive contributor for the Cougars as he averages 15.6 points per contest and has collected a team-leading 344 points this season.
In their last matchup, the Gaels shot 47 percent and Jordan Ford led the team with a total of 24 points on the night. Malik Fitts was just one rebound shy of a double-double (17 pts, 9 rebs) as SMC outrebounded BYU 38 to 32 in the entire game.
Saint Mary's and BYU are an even 14-14 all-time against one another, but the Gaels have only lost three out of the last ten contests against the Cougars. Last year, both teams took a win on their home courts.
