Saturday, January 31
Spokane, WA
7:30 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
at
Gonzaga
Harry Wessels will have the unique opportunity to try and play in three straight wins at the Kennel
Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
MBB | Gaels Look For Third Straight Win at the Kennel, Head to Gonzaga for Final Time as WCC Foes
1/28/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — Since the 1979-1980 season, Saint Mary's (19-3, 8-1 WCC) and Gonzaga (21-1, 9-0 WCC) have been West Coast Conference foes. In the 46 seasons that have followed, the Gaels and Zags matchup has become one of the most highly anticipated rivalry meetings in all of college basketball, and on Saturday, the Gaels will look to do something they've done just once before in program history; defeat the Zags in Spokane in three straight meetings. The previous instance of this occurring came back in 1988, 1989 and 1990, but with wins at the Kennel in 2024 and 2025, and 10 players on their roster who have experienced at least one win in Spokane, this Gaels team looks primed and ready for another thrilling battle on Saturday night.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at No. 6/6 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Saturday, January 31 at 7:30 PM
McCarthey Athletic Center – Spokane, Wash.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
APPROACHING 20 (AGAIN!)
The Gaels are now just one win away from their 18th consecutive 20+ win season (excluding the 24 games 2020-21 COVID year). Prior to Coach Bennett's arrival in Moraga, Saint Mary's had experienced just two 20 wins seasons in program history. They are now on the brink of their 21st.
CHASING JOCK
1234Following a week in which he averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest against Oregon State and Portland, junior forward Paulius Murauskas was named the WCC Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career. He is the first Gael to earn this distinction four times since Jock Landale. Landale won the honor seven times in his career, a mark that the junior forward from Lithuania has in his sights.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
A look at the WCC standings will show you that Saint Mary's trails Gonzaga by just one game for first place in the conference. A win for the Gaels on Saturday would knot the two WCC heavyweights into a first place stalemate just beyond the halfway point of conference play. That said, Gonzaga has suffered just one loss all season, to No. 3/2 Michigan back in late November. The Gaels look to join the Wolverines in that unique category of teams to have beaten the Zags this season. Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few entered the WCC ranks just two years prior to Coach Bennett taking the helm for Saint Mary's, and these two have helped create on of the most highly anticipated clashes year in and year out in college basketball. This year's Gonzaga squad has really impressed with their depth, ranking fifth in the country in bench scoring (38.1 PPG), and with 10 players averaging at least 11 minutes per game. The Zags also rank in the top-10 in the nation in field goal percentage, rebound margin, defensive rebounds per game, total rebounds per game, scoring margin and turnover margin. The Gaels and Bulldogs have met 117 times in program history, and while Gonzaga leads the all-time series 81-36, Saint Mary's has won three of the last four, four of the last six and six of the last 11 meetings.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at No. 6/6 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Saturday, January 31 at 7:30 PM
McCarthey Athletic Center – Spokane, Wash.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
APPROACHING 20 (AGAIN!)
The Gaels are now just one win away from their 18th consecutive 20+ win season (excluding the 24 games 2020-21 COVID year). Prior to Coach Bennett's arrival in Moraga, Saint Mary's had experienced just two 20 wins seasons in program history. They are now on the brink of their 21st.
CHASING JOCK
1234Following a week in which he averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest against Oregon State and Portland, junior forward Paulius Murauskas was named the WCC Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career. He is the first Gael to earn this distinction four times since Jock Landale. Landale won the honor seven times in his career, a mark that the junior forward from Lithuania has in his sights.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
A look at the WCC standings will show you that Saint Mary's trails Gonzaga by just one game for first place in the conference. A win for the Gaels on Saturday would knot the two WCC heavyweights into a first place stalemate just beyond the halfway point of conference play. That said, Gonzaga has suffered just one loss all season, to No. 3/2 Michigan back in late November. The Gaels look to join the Wolverines in that unique category of teams to have beaten the Zags this season. Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few entered the WCC ranks just two years prior to Coach Bennett taking the helm for Saint Mary's, and these two have helped create on of the most highly anticipated clashes year in and year out in college basketball. This year's Gonzaga squad has really impressed with their depth, ranking fifth in the country in bench scoring (38.1 PPG), and with 10 players averaging at least 11 minutes per game. The Zags also rank in the top-10 in the nation in field goal percentage, rebound margin, defensive rebounds per game, total rebounds per game, scoring margin and turnover margin. The Gaels and Bulldogs have met 117 times in program history, and while Gonzaga leads the all-time series 81-36, Saint Mary's has won three of the last four, four of the last six and six of the last 11 meetings.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
F
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