Don’t expect a high-scoring game when the Santa Clara Broncos (10-18) visit Saint Mary’s to play the Gaels (22-4). The game starts at 11:00 pm ET on Thursday, Feb. 25.
The Gaels were victorious over Gonzaga 63-58 the last time they played. Calvin Hermanson had a good game, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, and one steal for the Gaels. The Broncos, meanwhile, are coming off an 88-76 loss at the hands of Pepperdine in their last outing. Jared Brownridge had a good shooting night, leading the game with 26 points.
The high-octane offense of Saint Mary’s (second in the nation with an offensive efficiency of 120.8) will square off against the porous defense of Santa Clara (282nd in the nation with a defensive efficiency of 108.6), a matchup that should favor the Gaels. Furthermore, the 264th-ranked offense of the Broncos (offensive efficiency of 101.2) will face a tough test against the 22nd-ranked defense of the Gaels (defensive efficiency of 95.7).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Gaels won the first game 81-59. Evan Fitzner was a standout player in the game, producing 21 points, three rebounds, and four three-pointers.
Notes
Ranked second, the Saint Mary’s Gaels have an offensive rating of 120.8. The Santa Clara Broncos, on the other hand, rank 282nd with a defensive rating of 108.6.
The Santa Clara Broncos average 67.2 possessions per game and 1.012 points per possession. The Saint Mary’s Gaels earn fewer possessions with 62.0, but they score more points with 1.208.
Saint Mary’s is ranked second in the nation with an average effective field goal percentage of 59.0%. Santa Clara has not won a game this season when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage (0-4).
The Saint Mary’s Gaels rank 17th in assists per game with an average of 17.0. The Santa Clara Broncos are among the worst in the country with 12.6 assists per game (ranked 232nd).
Santa Clara ranks 308th in offensive rebounds, while Saint Mary’s ranks at 75th in defensive rebounds.
On average, Santa Clara forces a turnover rate of 17.2%. When Saint Mary’s turns over the ball at a similar or higher rate, the team has a dazzling 9-1 record.
