Wednesday, February 25
Moraga, CA
8:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
Santa Clara
Harry Wessels will be playing his final two games inside UCU Pavilion in a four year career at Saint Mary's
Photo by: Bob Huebner, WSU Photo Services
MBB | It All Comes Down to This: Gaels Host Santa Clara and No. 9 Gonzaga in Search of their Fourth Consecutive WCC Regular Season Crown
2/24/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — The stage is set for a highly entertaining final week of West Coast Conference regular season men's basketball play.
Saint Mary's, Santa Clara and Gonzaga have all been locked in as the top three finishers in the conference standings, but the question still remains; where each team will finish within those top three spots, with the Gaels and Broncos each trailing first-place Gonzaga by just one game with two to go. Adding to the excitement of this week, Saint Mary's (25-4, 14-2 WCC) will host both the Broncos and Zags and have the inside track to guarantee at least a share of the WCC regular season title with a pair of wins.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Santa Clara Broncos
Wednesday, February 25 at 8 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. No. 9 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Saturday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
THE WEEK OF DESTINY
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Gaels still control their own fate to earn at least a share of the 2026 WCC Regular Season Title for the fourth consecutive year. Standing in their way is a pair of home contests against two teams who are also still in the mix to take home a WCC Title share, Santa Clara and Gonzaga. The Gaels bring their program-record 24 game home win streak into the week, and a pair of wins would guarantee them at least a share of the WCC Regular Season Crown with no scoreboard watching necessary. The Gaels have never won four straight WCC Titles in program history.
SENIOR SALUTE
Prior to the final home game of the regular season, the Gaels will honor their lone true senior, Harry Wessels as a part of senior day. Wessels has spent all four of his collegiate years in Moraga after making his way to Saint Mary's from the Australian Centre of Excellence. In that time, the big man has scored 531 points and ripped down 418 rebounds, shooting 57.1% from the field, good for ninth best in program history. He also has recorded 86 career blocked shots, good for 10th all-time in program history. His biggest of those 86 came against Gonzaga at home last season, securing the Gaels' win over the Bulldogs at home.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara currently sits tied with the Gaels in second place in the WCC with two games to play, and holds an overall record of 23-6. They have bested every team but Gonzaga in the conference, but fell to the Bulldogs both at home and on the road this year. Herb Sendek is in his 10th season at the helm of Santa Clara, and has 32 years of Division I head coaching experience under his belt, now just three wins shy of 600 for his illustrious career. That said, Sendek is still searching for his first WCC Title, as the Broncos have not won the conference since 1997. This year's Bronco squad has been one of the best under Sendek, led by defending WCC Player of the Week Elijah Mahi and leading scorer Christian Hammond. That dynamic duo averaged nearly 31 points per game, and combined for 33 of the 62 points scored by Santa Clara against the Gaels at the Leavey Center earlier this season. One of the oldest basketball rivalries on the West Coast, Santa Clara and Saint Mary's will meet for the 246th time with the series dating all the way back to the 1909-10 season.
ABOUT THEN BULLDOGS
For the final time in Moraga as WCC foes, the Gaels will square off with the Gonzaga Bulldogs to cap the 2025-26 regular season, potentially with the WCC Regular Season Title hanging in the balance. The Bulldogs hold a one game lead on the Gaels in the WCC standings, with their lone loss coming at the hands of the Portland Pilots in the Chiles Center. Mark Few is the only coach to have won more WCC games than Randy Bennett, now in his 27th year in Spokane. As has been the case for the past three seasons, Graham Ike leads the Bulldogs averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game and went for 30 points against the Gaels in Spokane earlier this year. All-time, the Bulldogs lead the series against the Gaels 82-36, but the two programs have split the last 12 meetings.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Saint Mary's, Santa Clara and Gonzaga have all been locked in as the top three finishers in the conference standings, but the question still remains; where each team will finish within those top three spots, with the Gaels and Broncos each trailing first-place Gonzaga by just one game with two to go. Adding to the excitement of this week, Saint Mary's (25-4, 14-2 WCC) will host both the Broncos and Zags and have the inside track to guarantee at least a share of the WCC regular season title with a pair of wins.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Santa Clara Broncos
Wednesday, February 25 at 8 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. No. 9 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Saturday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
THE WEEK OF DESTINY
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Gaels still control their own fate to earn at least a share of the 2026 WCC Regular Season Title for the fourth consecutive year. Standing in their way is a pair of home contests against two teams who are also still in the mix to take home a WCC Title share, Santa Clara and Gonzaga. The Gaels bring their program-record 24 game home win streak into the week, and a pair of wins would guarantee them at least a share of the WCC Regular Season Crown with no scoreboard watching necessary. The Gaels have never won four straight WCC Titles in program history.
SENIOR SALUTE
Prior to the final home game of the regular season, the Gaels will honor their lone true senior, Harry Wessels as a part of senior day. Wessels has spent all four of his collegiate years in Moraga after making his way to Saint Mary's from the Australian Centre of Excellence. In that time, the big man has scored 531 points and ripped down 418 rebounds, shooting 57.1% from the field, good for ninth best in program history. He also has recorded 86 career blocked shots, good for 10th all-time in program history. His biggest of those 86 came against Gonzaga at home last season, securing the Gaels' win over the Bulldogs at home.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara currently sits tied with the Gaels in second place in the WCC with two games to play, and holds an overall record of 23-6. They have bested every team but Gonzaga in the conference, but fell to the Bulldogs both at home and on the road this year. Herb Sendek is in his 10th season at the helm of Santa Clara, and has 32 years of Division I head coaching experience under his belt, now just three wins shy of 600 for his illustrious career. That said, Sendek is still searching for his first WCC Title, as the Broncos have not won the conference since 1997. This year's Bronco squad has been one of the best under Sendek, led by defending WCC Player of the Week Elijah Mahi and leading scorer Christian Hammond. That dynamic duo averaged nearly 31 points per game, and combined for 33 of the 62 points scored by Santa Clara against the Gaels at the Leavey Center earlier this season. One of the oldest basketball rivalries on the West Coast, Santa Clara and Saint Mary's will meet for the 246th time with the series dating all the way back to the 1909-10 season.
ABOUT THEN BULLDOGS
For the final time in Moraga as WCC foes, the Gaels will square off with the Gonzaga Bulldogs to cap the 2025-26 regular season, potentially with the WCC Regular Season Title hanging in the balance. The Bulldogs hold a one game lead on the Gaels in the WCC standings, with their lone loss coming at the hands of the Portland Pilots in the Chiles Center. Mark Few is the only coach to have won more WCC games than Randy Bennett, now in his 27th year in Spokane. As has been the case for the past three seasons, Graham Ike leads the Bulldogs averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game and went for 30 points against the Gaels in Spokane earlier this year. All-time, the Bulldogs lead the series against the Gaels 82-36, but the two programs have split the last 12 meetings.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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