Feb 23, 2023; Moraga, California, USA; St. Mary’s Gaels guard Logan Johnson (0) drives previous Pacific Tigers guard Moe Odum (4) throughout the first half at College Credit score Union Pavilion. Obligatory Credit score: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports activities
- WCC powers Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga meet for the second time this season on Saturday, February 25
- No. 12 Gonzaga is a 4.5-point favourite over No. 15 Saint Mary’s in The Kennel in Spokane
- Learn beneath for Saint Mary’s vs Gonzaga odds, evaluation and prediction
No. 12 Gonzaga (24-5, 13-2 West Coast) is a 4.5-point residence favourite over Saint Mary’s in a WCC recreation at 10pm ET Saturday on ESPN2. Gonzaga has received 5 in a row since a 78-70 additional time loss at Saint Mary’s on Feb. 4.
No. 15 Saint Mary’s (25-5, 14-1 West Coast) has received 4 in a row after falling to Loyola Marymount 79-74 on Feb. 9. That was the Gaels’ first recreation after their victory over the Bulldogs.
Saint Mary’s vs Gonzaga Odds
| Group | Unfold | Moneyline | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary’s Gaels | +4.5 (-102) | +172 | Over 142.5 (-110) |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | -4.5 (-120) | -210 | Beneath 142.5 (-110) |
Gonzaga is a 4.5-point favourite over Saint Mary’s within the WCC’s premier rivalry. The sport opened with the Zags as a 5.5-point selection however instantly dropped.
Gonzaga has dominated this sequence, going 8-2 SU and 5-4-1 ATS for the reason that 2020 season. Over the longer haul, the Bulldogs are 15-4 SU and 12-6-1 ATS since their victory within the 2016 WCC championship recreation.
St. Mary’s has received two of the final three conferences, most just lately the 74-70 additional time win on Feb. 4. Gonzaga is 4-0 SU and 2-1-1 ATS within the final 4 residence video games.
Saint Mary’s is 18-11 ATS this season, among the many greatest cowl charges in Division I, however solely 3-4 ATS on the street. Gonzaga is 10-17-1 in opposition to the quantity, among the many worst charges in Division I. They’re 6-5-1 ATS at residence.
Odds from FanDuel on Feb. 24.
Gonzaga Has This One Circled
Gonzaga managed the sooner assembly in Moraga. The Zags led for the ultimate 37 minutes of regulation however stumbled within the closing seconds.
A foul defensive rotation led to the Mitchell Saxen’s game-tying basket off an Aidan Mahaney move with 5.5 seconds remaining, and Julian Strawther tried a pressured three-pointer with a number of seconds to spare because the clock wound all the way down to ship it to additional time.
The Zags trailed by 4 at 71-67 and had possession, however they missed two area aim makes an attempt and had two turnovers of their closing 4 additional time possessions.
Area of interest Stat Alert 🚨
Most Capturing Fouls Drawn Per 40 Minutes:
1. Tolu Smith
2. Javian Davis
3. Drew Timme
4. Armando Bacot
5. Oumar Ballo pic.twitter.com/cJuP7POW0k— CBB Analytics (@CBBAnalytics) February 24, 2023
Drew Timme (21.3 factors, 7.5 rebounds) and Strawther (15.6, 6.3) are the Bulldogs’ most constant scorers, and as soon as once more the Zags are the top-shooting staff within the Division I, making 52.6% from the sector.
Due to three-point choices led by Strawher (68 threes) and guard Rasir Bolton (11.0 factors, 40 threes), Gonzaga additionally leads Division I with an efficient area aim proportion of 58.6%.
Timme is 58 factors in need of catching Frank Burgess to turn into this system’s profession main scorer.
The Bulldogs have been much less constantly defensively than their current editions, though they held San Diego scoreless for a six-minute, 13-second stretch in a 97-72 victory Thursday. Opponents are capturing 44.9 % in opposition to them, within the decrease third of Division I.
2023 Picket Award Odds: School Basketball Participant of the Yr Tracker
Saint Mary’s Seeks a Sweep
Saint Mary’s could make some current historical past within the rematch right here. The Gaels haven’t received the West Coast Convention regular-season championship outright since 2011-12, and so they haven’t swept the season sequence from Gonzaga since 2015-16.
A victory would accomplish each. The Gaels’ coasted to an 83-52 victory over Pacific on Thursday to realize at the least a share of the WCC crown.
Tenth Freshman of the Week award for Aidan Mahaney, tying Jalen Suggs for many in WCC historical past https://t.co/cJKWs8IYvU
— Alex Jensen (@ajensen86) February 20, 2023
Saint Mary’s has been the most effective staff within the league since coach Randy Bennett inserted freshman level guard Aidan Mahaney into the beginning lineup on Dec. 7 following a three-game shedding streak that dropped the Gaels to 6-3.
Saint Mary’s places the ball in 6’3″ Mahaney’s (14.8 factors. 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists) arms in crunch time, and it has labored. He hit game-winning pictures in opposition to and BYU and had the game-tying help within the first Gonzaga recreation.
Senior guards Logan Johnson (14.3, 4.9, 3.7) and Alex Ducas (12.3 factors, 4.0 rebounds) and junior large man Saxen (12.2, 8.3) are dependable, role-specific veterans in Bennett’s movement offense. Johnson, Ducas and ahead Kyle Bowen (5.4, 7.4) have began each recreation the final two seasons. Johnson has scored 31, 34, 3, 27 and 29 factors on 39 of 55 from the sector within the 5 video games for the reason that Gonzaga loss.
Saint Mary’s vs Gonzaga Prediction
Gonzaga was the higher staff the primary time they met, and being at residence supplies an added enhance within the rematch. The stat that has essentially the most relevance right here is the customer’s capacity, by means of type and the standard of their system, to maintain video games shut.
The Gaels’ 5 losses have come by 4, two, 5, 4 and 4 factors. There is no such thing as a arguing that Gonzaga might be motivated by a loss within the first assembly, however that’s solely price a lot.
Saint Mary’s is motivated by the very fact of an outright WCC title. In a recreation matching among the finest unfold groups in Division I in opposition to one of many worst, taking the factors is the play.
- Decide: Saint Mary’s +4.5 (-102)
- Season CBK: 43-22 ATS
Jack Magruder
Jack has lined faculty {and professional} sports activities for varied Arizona media retailers for the reason that Nineteen Eighties and has written for the Related Press, USA At present and Baseball America, amongst others. He staffed the 2015-17 World Collection and has staffed 4 Tremendous Bowls.
