Saint Mary’s routs Santa Clara 86-67, moves a step closer to another NCAA tournament berth – The Mercury News

MORAGA — Saint Mary’s extends its program record with a twenty fifth consecutive house victory on Wednesday evening.

If the Gaels get to No. 26 on Saturday evening they’re going to personal a share of an unprecedented fourth consecutive West Coast Conference championship.

Saint Mary’s used a 19-2 run spanning the 2 halves and a dominant rebounding efficiency to avenge an earlier loss at Santa Clara by taking down the Broncos 86-67 in a battle of groups tied for second place.

The Gaels (26-4, 15-2) will stay at house Saturday evening for his or her newest showdown in opposition to two-decades lengthy rival Gonzaga. Tipoff is 7:30 pm for the sold-out ESPN matchup. The Zags, who’re leaving the WCC for the rebuilt Pac-12 subsequent season, will make their closing look in Moraga as a convention rival.

Gonzaga (28-2, 16-1) clinched at the least a share of the WCC title Wednesday with its 89-48 rout of Portland, which had dealt the Zags their solely convention defeat.

The Gaels, who started the day at No. 26 within the NET laptop, moved a massive step closer to touchdown a fifth straight NCAA tournament bid.

Gonzaga beat the Gaels 73-65 in Spokane final month, however the groups have break up their 10 conferences because the begin of the 2022-23 season.

The Broncos (23-7, 14-3), who had been No. 41 within the NET and hoping to full a two-game, regular-season sweep of the Gaels for the primary time since 2005, will shut out the common season Saturday at house in opposition to Oregon State. SCU is chasing its first NCAA berth since 1996.

Saint Mary’s, which trailed by 5 factors with 5 minutes left within the first half, led by as many as 23 factors within the closing minutes of the sport.

Sophomore guard Mikey Lewis of Oakland delivered a terrific recreation for Saint Mary’s, totaling 21 factors, seven assists and 4 steals. Point guard Joshua Dent contributed 14 factors and eight assists.

Gaels forwards Paulius Muruaskas (16 factors, 11 rebounds) and Dillan Shaw (11 factors, 14 rebounds) and middle Harry Wessels (10 factors, 10 rebounds) helped Saint Mary’s forge a 51-21 rebounding edge that fueled a 30-9 benefit in second-chance factors.

Forward Allen Graves scored 20 factors off the bench to lead the Broncos.

Saint Mary’s jumped on the Broncos, sprinting to an 11-2 lead after back-to-back 3-pointers from Dent.