SANTA CLARA, Calif. - One of the most important games of the year for Santa Clara men's basketball is set to take place Wednesday evening, Feb. 25, at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, Calif. The Broncos (23-6, 14-2) and long-time rival Saint Mary's (25-4, 14-2) are set to face off in a battle for sole possession of second place in the WCC standings with the winner having the inside track to locking up a coveted top-two seed in the upcoming 2026 Credit Union 1 WCC Basketball Tournament. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. PT and will be aired live on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz and Dan Dickau on the call. Fans can also catch Anthony Passarelli and Henry Caruso's audio-only call through Sidearm Sports.
THE OPPONENT
Saint Mary’s enters the contest at 25-4 overall and riding a six-game winning streak. The Gaels are tied with Santa Clara for second in the WCC standings at 14-2 in league games. Led by Randy Bennett in his 25th season at the helm, the Gaels feature the nation’s fifth-best rebounding margin (10.9), rank 5th nationally with just under 40 total rebounds per game, lead the country in free throw shooting (80.4) and have the eighth-best scoring defense nationally at 64.3 points allowed. Paulius Murauskas is the WCC’s second-leading scorer at 19.0 points per game while Andrew McKeever leads the league in rebounding with 9.2 per contest. Joshua Dent is the third-best free throw shooter in the nation at 92.7 percent.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SAINT MARY’S
The long-time rivals have met consistently since 1910 with Santa Clara holding a 137-103 lead in the all-time series, including a 62-54 win earlier this season in Leavey Center. The Gaels lead 38-27 in games played in Moraga and have taken eight of the last 10 contests overall.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE GAELS
Santa Clara came out on top of a defensive battle with a hard-earned 62-54 win over the Gaels inside Leavey Center on Jan. 17. It was SCU’s first win over Saint Mary’s since 2022, breaking an eight-game losing skid in the series. Christian Hammond scored 25 points, including a 9-for-10 mark at the free throw line, to help the Broncos withstand a late comeback bid after leading by 16 midway through the second half. Allen Graves added 11 points and eight rebounds. SCU held Saint Mary’s to just 31 percent shooting, including a 4-for-22 mark from 3-point range.
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos got back on track with a 94-73 road win over San Francisco to complete the regular-season series sweep against the Dons for the first time since 2022. Four Broncos logged double-figure scoring led by a monster night from Elijah Mahi, who knocked down 11-of-21 attempts for a career-best 30 points to go with seven rebounds and a career-best-tying four steals. Christian Hammond logged 18 points (16 in the first half alone), Thierry Darlan also turned in a career-best with 15 points and four steals, and Brenton Knapper added 10 points and three steals of his own in the blowout victory. SCU was 13-of-31 from 3-point range and a sharp 13-of-14 at the charity stripe.
OFFENSE ON HISTORIC PACE
At 84.0 points per game, Santa Clara’s offense is on a record-setting pace, and is currently just ahead of the 1969-70 team (83.7) for the best average in program history. Their 12.1 scoring margin currently checks in at No. 3 on the all-time list.
A NEW RECORD FOR CONFERENCE WINS
With 14 WCC victories, Santa Clara has broken the program record for conference wins in a season previously held by the 1967-68 and 1968-69 squads who both finished 13-1.
BEST START SINCE 1969-70
At 23-6, Santa Clara is off to their best start since the 1969-70 campaign, the final year of a historic three-year stretch that saw the Broncos win three consecutive WCC titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. That team concluded the season 23-6.
MOST WINS OF THE SENDEK ERA
The Broncos’ 23 victories are currently tied with the 2022-23 team (23-10) for the most of the Herb Sendek Era (since 2016-17).
WHAT’S ON THE LINE...
A 24th victory would tie for the third-most in a season in program history (2010-11).
HIGH SCORING NUMBERS IN CONFERENCE SCORING
Santa Clara ranks fifth nationally in scoring average in conference games (88.1). SCU is one of just two teams in the league (LMU) that has three individuals averaging better than 13 points per game in league play - Christian Hammond (15.8), Elijah Mahi (14.4) and Allen Graves (13.1).
MAHI EARNS WCC POTW HONORS FOR SECOND TIME
Elijah Mahi’s career night at USF earned him his second WCC Player of the Week honor of the season. The Toronto native previously won the award for the week of Dec. 29 after scoring a then-season-high 23 points at Oregon State. Mahi has won the award three times in total in his two-year Bronco Career.
RACE TO 80
Santa Clara’s chances of victory soar when reaching the 80-point mark. The Broncos are 18–1 this season when scoring 80 or more, continuing a trend that dates back to Herb Sendek’s first season in 2016–17. Over the last 10 seasons, SCU is 100–12 (.893) in games with 80+ points, including a 72–10 (.878) mark over the past five years.
THREE WITH 30
Santa Clara is one of just 18 teams in the nation that has had at least three players tally a 30-point game: Gavalyugov (37), Graves (30) & Mahi (30).
