In a critical college basketball matchup, the Santa Clara Broncos will take on the Saint Mary”s Gaels on February 25, 2026. This game marks the second encounter between these two teams this season, following their first meeting on January 17, where Santa Clara secured a 62-54 win.
Both teams are positioned among the top three seeds in the West Coast Conference (WCC), with Gonzaga leading the standings. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Saint Mary”s opens as a 5.5-point favorite and is listed at -265 on the moneyline, while Santa Clara has +215 odds for an upset. The total points for the game is set at 153.5.
This season, the Broncos hold a strong record of 23-6 and have excelled in conference play with a 14-2 record. They come into this game following a victory over San Francisco and have won 10 of their last 11 games. Their only losses were to Gonzaga (twice), Saint Louis, New Mexico, Arizona State, and Loyola Chicago. Santa Clara has gone 16-12 against the spread this season, with the total points going over in 19 of their 28 qualifying games.
Under the guidance of coach Herb Sendek, the Broncos average 84.0 points per game, ranking them 28th among Division I teams. They also boast a 38th ranking in offensive efficiency, 52nd in field goal percentage, and 27th in three-point attempts. Defensively, Santa Clara allows 72.0 points per game, placing them 125th nationally.
Leading the scoring for Santa Clara is Christian Hammond, averaging 16.4 points per game, alongside 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 40.4% from three-point range. Elijah Mahi contributes 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, while Allen Graves adds 11.1 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds.
On the other side, the Gaels have a record of 25-4 and also sport a 14-2 conference mark. They enter this contest riding a six-game winning streak, with their last defeat occurring on January 31. Saint Mary”s losses have come against teams like Vanderbilt, Boise State, Santa Clara, and Gonzaga. They are 18-10 against the spread this season.
Paulius Murauskas is a standout for Saint Mary”s, averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Joshua Dent follows with 13.2 points and 5.7 assists, while Mikey Lewis adds another 13.1 points to the mix. Saint Mary”s averages 78.4 points per game, ranking 126th in the nation, and they excel defensively, allowing just 64.3 points per game.
The initial matchup saw Santa Clara prevail 62-54, successfully covering the 1.5-point spread. Both teams struggled offensively, with Santa Clara shooting 41% from the field and 21% from three-point range, while Saint Mary”s managed only 31% and 18%, respectively. This rematch is expected to showcase both teams” defensive strengths, making it likely to be a low-scoring affair.
While both teams have identical conference records, expectations lean towards Saint Mary”s to claim victory and cover the spread. They have demonstrated superior performance at home, holding a 10-4 record against the spread, and are poised to avenge their earlier loss to Santa Clara.
