MBB | Gaels Host BYU, Santa Clara This Week

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's will look to get back on track this week with two home contests against BYU and Santa Clara. Thursday's game against BYU will be shown on ESPN2 while the matchup versus Santa Clara can be seen on ESPNU.

GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 17 vs. BYU (12-4, 1-0 WCC)
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 9 at 8:00 p.m. PT
Location: University Credit Union Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
TV: ESPN2 (Roxy Bernstein, Corey Williams)
Radio: Tune In (Alex Jensen, Dave Lewis)
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 14-14 (Last meeting: 1/24/19, A, SMC 66 — BYU 71)

Game No. 18 vs. Santa Clara (14-2, 1-0 WCC)
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 11 at 5:00 p.m. PT
Location: University Credit Union Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
TV: ESPNU (Dave Flemming, Richie Schueler)
Radio: Tune In (Alex Jensen, Dave Lewis)
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 92-137 (Last meeting: 2/14/19, A, SMC 66 — SCU 55)

ABOUT BYU
The Cougars defeated LMU in their first and only WCC game so far this season and are 12-4 overall on the year. BYU held the Lions to just 38 points on Saturday, a season-best. The Cougars are also riding a six-game winning streak with victories over Nevada and Utah State in that span.

Since joining the team from his suspension, forward Yoeli Childs has been a force on the court with 20.9 points per game and 10.1 rebounds. The 6-8 senior is shooting 62 percent from the field while also blocking 1.4 shots on average. Utah Valley transfer guard Jake Toolson is second on the team with 14.6 points and shoots the 3-ball at a 44 percent clip while TJ Haws (12.3) and Alex Barcello (10.1) also figure into double-figures.

BYU got the last laugh as they defeated the Gaels in Provo last January, 71-66. However, Saint Mary's is 8-1 all-time against the Cougars inside UCU Pavilion and 13-8 overall during Randy Bennett's tenure.

ABOUT SANTA CLARA
The Broncos are off to their best start in 50 years with a 14-2 record and 1-0 showing so far in conference play. Santa Clara defeated San Diego in their WCC opener 80-63 and are also in the midst of a six-game win streak. Prior to facing the Gaels on Saturday, the Broncos will be tested on the road at San Francisco on Thursday.

Santa Clara has a balanced scoring attack with Trey Wertz leading the team at 12.4 points per game while six other players are averaging at least eight points or more. As a team, the Broncos rank seventh in the country in assists per game (17.9), ninth in field goal percentage (49.1), and lead the conference in blocks per game (4.4)

Saint Mary's has won the last eight matchups against Santa Clara and 19 of the last 22 meetings. SMC has beaten SCU in their last five contests in Moraga.

LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's and Pacific battled all night long in a 3-hour-22-minute, four overtime thriller inside Spanos Center on Saturday but the Tigers would ultimately come out on top, 107-99, to snap the Gaels' five-game winning streak.

Regulation could not decide a winner as the team's went into overtime tied up at 64-all. The Gaels got a look at the buzzer with Tanner Krebs getting a last second trey off in time but the shot found rim.

Saint Mary's led by one in the waning seconds of overtime number two and would expand that lead to three with nine seconds to play as Alex Ducas ducked a defender and made a one-footed jumper as the shot clock expired. Unfortunately for the Gaels, Pacific's Gary Chivichyan banked in a buzzer beater three on the opposite end to force a third session.

Kyle Bowen appeared to have the game won at the end of the third overtime with a last second layup but a block by Shaquillo Fritz would negate his try. The Gaels' bench pleaded for a goaltending call but with the play non-reviewable, Saint Mary's headed for their first four overtime game in program history.

Jordan Ford scored a career-high 36 points against Pacific in the loss while also playing a career-high 58 minutes. Tommy Kuhse also played 50 minutes in the contest.

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