College Basketball Picks: Saint Mary's Gaels vs Santa Clara Broncos
Saturday, January 21, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
The Saint Marys Gaels doesn't seem to have a lot to fear as it goes after its ninth straight victory when it visits Santa Clara Broncos.
The No. 23 Gaels are undefeated in the West Coast Conference while the struggling Broncos are seeking their first WCC victory. Santa Mary's made it 16 wins in 17 games when it defeated Pepperdine 61-47 on Thursday and leads the conference by 1 1/2 games over second-place Gonzaga.
Powerful Baylor is the only team to defeat the Gaels since late November. Santa Clara has lost five consecutive games since last winning in late December and the Broncos have lost their four conference games by an average of 15.5 points.
- Saint Mary's Gaels @ Santa Clara Broncos
When: 11:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 21, 2012
Where: Leavey Center, Santa Clara, California
TV: 11 p.m. ET, CS California (CSN)
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Gaels listed as 12-point favorites versus the Broncos.
Saint Mary's Gaels (8-9): The Gaels have been dominating in conference play, winning by an average of 15.6 points. Saint Mary’s has held four teams to less than 50 points and is giving up 59.0 points per game. The Gaels forced 17 turnovers in Thursday’s victory over Pepperdine. Junior guard Matthew Dellavedova leads the Gaels in scoring (15.3) and assists (6.5) and is a solid 3-point threat with a 40.3 percentage. Senior forward Rob Jones is averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds and is a superb defender. Jones has 36 steals, second behind sophomore guard Stephen Holt’s 43. Holt averages 10.4 points.
Santa Clara Broncos (18-2): Junior guard Kevin Foster is 68 points away from becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer. Foster is in sixth place and needs seven points to pass former NBA center Dennis Awtrey and 21 points to pass two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash. Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Kurt Rambis holds the school record with 1,736 points. Foster averages a team-best 17.5 points and has made 59 3-point baskets. Sophomore guard Evan Roquemore has been productive with a 14.1 average and a team-best 5.4 assists. Santa Clara is 6-2 at home.
1. Saint Mary’s has won eight of the last nine meetings with Santa Clara.
2. Foster ranks third in WCC history with 306 career 3-point baskets.
3. The Gaels outrebound opponents by an average of 7.9.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Gaels 76, Broncos 67.
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dennis awtrey - evan roquemore - kevin foster - kurt rambis - leavey center - matthew dellavedova - rob jones - saint marys gaels - santa clara broncos - stephen holt
