MBB | Regular Season Wraps Up this Week at Santa Clara, Gonzaga

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's wraps up the regular season this week with contests against two teams who have previously defeated the Gaels this year, Santa Clara and No. 3 Gonzaga. Both games can be viewed on national television on CBS Sports Network and ESPN2, respectively.

GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 30 vs. Santa Clara (18-11, 5-9 WCC)
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Leavey Center (Santa Clara, Calif.)
TV: CBS Sports Network (Jason Horowitz, Ryan Hollins)
Radio: Tune In (Alex Jensen)
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 92-128 (Last meeting: 1/11/20, H, SMC 66 — SCU 67)

Game No. 31 vs. No. 3 Gonzaga (27-2, 13-1 WCC)
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 29 at 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: McCarthey Athletic Center (Spokane, Wash.)
TV: ESPN2 (Dave Flemming, Sean Farnham)
Radio: Tune In (Alex Jensen)
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 30-70 (Last meeting: 2/8/20, H, SMC 60 — GU 90)

ABOUT SANTA CLARA
The Broncos sit in seventh place in the conference standings at 5-9 and are looking to fend off Loyola Marymount who are just one game back. Santa Clara began WCC play 5-4 but have since lost five straight. After facing the Gaels on Thursday, they'll conclude their regular season by hosting Portland on Saturday.

In the team's previous matchup, the Gaels were edged in the final seconds to fall inside UCU Pavilion, 67-66. Joseph Vrankic scored the go-ahead bucket on a put back with 9.4 seconds to play to secure the upset for the Broncos.

Vrankic leads the team in both points (12.4) and rebounds (5.6) this year and is shooting 48 percent from the floor. Guard Trey Wertz is the Broncos' other top scoring option as he averages 12.0 per game as well as 4.0 assists. Six different Broncos are scoring at least eight points per contest this year.

Santa Clara is Saint Mary's most historic rival with 220 all-time meetings between the schools. Since Randy Bennett took control of the team, SMC is 29-13 against their old foe.

ABOUT GONZAGA
The No. 3 Zags are 27-2 this season but were just dealt their first conference loss of the season by No. 17 BYU on Saturday. The Cougars snapped Gonzaga's 40-game winning streak in conference play that extended back to the 2017-18 season when Saint Mary's beat GU in Spokane, 74-71.

The Bulldogs have six different players averaging more than 10 points per game and another, Drew Timme, at 9.9 ppg. Filip Petrusev leads the team with 17.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg despite playing less than 26 minutes per contest. Gonzaga is rated as having the best offense in the nation according to KenPom.com and are also 34th in defensive efficiency.

Saint Mary's had their hands full with Gonzaga in the team's first meeting in Moraga as they fell 90-60. GU shot 68 percent in that game and put up 53 points in the first half alone. Jordan Ford led SMC in the contest with 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting.

The Zags lead the series all-time, 70-30. Saint Mary's has beaten Gonzaga at least once in three of the past four seasons including last year in the WCC Championship title game.

LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's had a picture perfect ending to their home schedule slate by taking down San Diego 92-63 in front of a sold out University Credit Union Pavilion on Saturday.

Jordan Ford celebrated Senior Night by putting up 22, grabbing a season-high eight rebounds, and dishing out three assists in what could be his last ever game in Moraga. Malik Fitts was equally unstoppable for SMC with 27 points and 19 in the final half. The redshirt junior was 10-for-16 on shooting and made five of his six tries from beyond the arc.

Saint Mary's other three seniors also scored in the win. Tanner Krebs scored seven, Aaron Menzies started for the Gaels and had four points and four rebounds, and Dan Sheets scored his third career bucket with an impressive fadeaway in the final minute.

After going bucket for bucket with the Toreros for the first 24 or so minutes of the game, the Gaels finally broke free in the latter half. Saint Mary's made 14 of their first 18 shots in the second half to jump ahead by 22. Saint Mary's would eventually stretch that lead out to 31 with three minutes to play.

The Gaels shot 56 percent overall and 64 in the second half. SMC won the battle on the boards, 35-31, and recorded 14 assists.

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