Santa Clara Broncos vs Saint Mary's Gaels Picks and Predictions for Monday March 9 2026
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The Santa Clara Broncos and Saint Mary's Gaels meet in the West Coast Conference Tournament - Semifinal on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:30 PM ET, and the game will be televised on ESPN2. At the time of this writing, the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily betting insights and college basketball analysis.
Santa Clara Looking to Extend Its Strong Season
Santa Clara enters the semifinal with a 25-7 overall record and a 15-3 mark in WCC play. The Broncos advanced to this round of the tournament with a 76-68 win over Pacific in the quarterfinals. In their last five games, Santa Clara has recently won over Pacific, Oregon State, and San Francisco, while recently losing to Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga, showing the highs and challenges of competing against the top teams in the conference.
The Broncos have been one of the most explosive offensive teams in the conference this season. Santa Clara averages 83.8 points per game while allowing 72.3 points per contest. The team shoots 47% from the field, averages 35.7 rebounds per game, and distributes 16.9 assists per contest, highlighting strong ball movement. Defensively, the Broncos add 3.8 blocks and 9.3 steals per game, using active hands to generate turnovers and fast-break opportunities.
A key tournament storyline for Santa Clara is the offensive efficiency it displayed in the quarterfinal victory. In the 76-68 win over Pacific, Allen Graves led the Broncos with 19 points, while Elijah Mahi led the team with 11 rebounds. Santa Clara also knocked down 42% of its three-point attempts, showing the perimeter shooting that has fueled its offense all season. With the short turnaround before facing Saint Mary’s, maintaining that scoring rhythm will be critical.
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Saint Mary's Rested and Ready After the Bye
Saint Mary’s enters the semifinal with a 27-4 overall record and a 16-2 mark in WCC play, earning a bye into the semifinal round of the conference tournament. In their last five games, the Gaels have recently won over Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Washington State, Seattle, and Pacific, entering this matchup with strong momentum.
The Gaels have been one of the most balanced teams in the conference. Saint Mary’s averages 78.4 points per game while allowing just 64.2 points per contest, giving them one of the strongest defensive profiles in the WCC. The team shoots 46% from the field, averages 40.4 rebounds per game, and records 15.5 assists per contest. Defensively, Saint Mary’s contributes 3.6 blocks and 5.8 steals per game, combining physical rebounding with disciplined half-court defense.
The most recent performance for Saint Mary’s came in a major statement win. In the 70-59 victory over Gonzaga, Mikey Lewis led the Gaels with 31 points, delivering a dominant scoring performance. Dillan Shaw led the team with 10 rebounds, helping Saint Mary’s win the rebounding battle 42-37. Despite shooting just 35% from the field, the Gaels made 48% of their three-point shots, showing their ability to win even when overall shooting efficiency is lower.
Santa Clara Broncos vs Saint Mary's Gaels Pick
Santa Clara Broncos vs Saint Mary's Gaels Spread Pick
- Pick: Saint Mary's Gaels moneyline
Saint Mary’s has been one of the most consistent teams in the conference all season and enters this matchup with the advantage of rest after receiving the bye. The Gaels also defeated Santa Clara convincingly in their most recent meeting. Their defensive strength, allowing just 64.2 points per game, combined with their rebounding advantage, should help them control the tempo and limit Santa Clara’s high-powered offense.
Santa Clara Broncos vs Saint Mary's Gaels Total Pick
- Pick: Under
I like the under in this matchup because Saint Mary’s tends to slow the pace and rely on strong defense. The Gaels allow just 64.2 points per game, and when they dictate tempo, games often turn into half-court battles. While Santa Clara has a potent offense, Saint Mary’s defensive discipline and rebounding could keep the scoring lower than expected.
Final Score Prediction: Saint Mary's Gaels 74, Santa Clara Broncos 68
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