8:00 PM PST
#23 Saint Mary's Gaels at Pepperdine Waves
Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, California.
Saint Mary's is 24-5 on the season, 12-2 in WCC play and currently on a three game winning streak.
Pepperdine is 12-15 on the season, 4-10 in WCC play and currently on a two game losing streak.
TV: ESPNU and ESPN Pacific Rim.
The Gaels emotions entering this game should be as positive as Malibu is beautiful. Coming off an impressive 74-66 win over Creighton on Saturday, the Gaels have earned their first ranking in the top-25 this season, #23 in the Coaches' Poll. That win also goes a long way towards generating an at-large berth for the otherwise resume deficient squad. For that at-large berth to be awarded the Gaels will need to continue to win games, this game included.
The Waves will be celebrating senior night for this last home game of their season. Fifth year senior Lorne Jackson, who has led this otherwise inexperienced Pepperdine squad, will have a chance to go out with a bang on national television. A strong performance opposite Cousy Award Finalist Matthew Dellavedova would be one great way to end his career in Malibu. More important however would be picking up a win. If Jackson and the Waves can come through with the upset they will have 13 wins on the season. Not since 2004-2005 has a men's basketball team fielded by Pepperdine University accumulated more than 12 wins in one season. While this season is all but guaranteed to end with a below .500 record, the 13 win mark could be seen as a major step forward. For a team with just one senior the future is bright.
Unfortunately, that brightness is outshone in the present by a Gaels squad that is coming together down the stretch run of the season. Since Christmas Saint Mary's has posted a record of 16-2. Their two losses came to #2 Gonzaga (the Zags are now primed to earn the #1 ranking if they win their games this week). On top of the wins this team is playing exceptional basketball at both ends of the floor. The Gaels are one of the most efficient and highest scoring offensive teams in the nation. On Saturday in their win over Creighton, a team about which that last sentence could also be said, they showed their defensive prowess as well. The Gaels held Creighton to just 66 points, well under the Bluejays' normal output of 75.7.
The Waves are looking for their most wins in a season over the past eight. The Gaels are looking for their 25th win in a season for the sixth straight. Those two sentences alone pretty sum up this game about as well as anything else could.
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