MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's (9-2) will face off with Santa Clara inside UCU Pavilion on Saturday in the team's only game of the week. Scheduling changes were announced yesterday that canceled the Gaels contest against San Diego on Thursday and switched the location of the Saturday game.  

GAME INFORMATION
Game 12 vs. Santa Clara Broncos
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 9 at 4:00 p.m. PT
Location: UCU Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: TuneIn (Alex Jensen)
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS 
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 93-138 (Last meeting: 2/27/20, A, SMC 78 — SCU 72)

ABOUT SANTA CLARA
The Broncos are 6-2 this year and, like the Gaels, have yet to play a conference game thus far. SCU was set to take on Gonzaga on Thursday before the game was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. Saturday's game was planned to take place at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz but moved to Moraga due to scheduling conflicts at the venue. 

Santa Clara is in the midst of a two-game losing streak with losses coming against USC and Colorado State and will look to right the ship on Saturday. Leading the charge for the Broncos is Josip Vrankic who is averaging over 16 points per game this season. Christian Carlyle is second on the roster with 9.3 ppg. 

As a team, Santa Clara is shooting only 41 percent overall and just 24 percent from beyond the arc. While the team has struggled offensively, the Broncos rate as one of the better defensive teams in the West Coast Conference and are 52nd in the nation in defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com, just one slot behind the Gaels' ranking of 51st. 

Saint Mary's has played Santa Clara more than any other opponent in its history with Saturday's matchup marking the 232nd time the teams have met. While SCU holds a considerable lead in the all-time series, the Gaels have won 20 of the last 23 meetings dating back to 2010. All three losses in that span came by two or fewer points. None of Saint Mary's 20 wins during that stretch have been by fewer than six points and 16 have been double-digit wins. 

LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's wrapped up non-conference play with an 18-point win over Sacramento State (3-1) in UCU Pavilion and will head into West Coast Conference action with a 9-2 record. 

Tommy Kuhse had a team-high 17 points to lead the Gaels. Despite going just 3-for-11 from the floor, the redshirt senior did his damage at the free throw line where he made 10 of his 11 tries. He also posted a team-best seven assists. 

Matthias Tass also scored a season-high 16 points and grabbed five rebounds in the win. Freshman Jabe Mullins flirted with a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds while filling in for the injured Alex Ducas. Kyle Bowen led all players with 10 boards. 

After scoring a season-low 49 points against San Diego State in their last game, the Gaels came out firing on all cylinders by knocking down 10 of their first 11 shots. Tass gave the Hornets fits early on as he was a perfect 6-for-6 to begin the game. 

VIRTUAL SELLOUT
The Saint Mary's men's basketball program is looking for the support of Gael Nation during the most impactful home stand of the season. Help virtually sellout University Credit Union Pavilion when SMC hosts BYU on Thursday, Jan. 14 and Gonzaga on Saturday, Jan. 16. 

Each virtual ticket will include an entry into the premium prize drawing, which features exclusive Saint Mary's Basketball items. For more information on prizes or on how to buy tickets, click HERE.