Moraga, California – The Saint Mary’s Gaels are putting on a show for their home fans as they lead the Gonzaga Bulldogs 36-28 at halftime. Coming into this matchup, Saint Mary’s was riding high on a nine-game winning streak. Now, they are just one half away from potentially making it ten. The question remains: will they extend their streak or will Gonzaga rally back to spoil the fun?

This much-awaited West Coast contest tipped off at the University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga on Saturday at 11:00 p.m. ET. Despite being down at halftime, the Bulldogs are known for their offensive prowess, having scored 82 points or more in their last seven games. Just last Tuesday, Gonzaga annihilated Oregon State, winning 98-60. They have made a habit of dominating games, winning ten matches by 21 points or more this season.

In the previous game against Oregon State, Khalif Battle led the way for Gonzaga, scoring 23 points along with three steals. Graham Ike was also a beast on the court, hitting 10 out of 12 shots for 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Not to be overlooked, Michael Ajayi contributed a double-double, finishing with 15 points and ten rebounds. As a team, Gonzaga tallied an impressive 19 assists, far surpassing Oregon State’s nine.

On the other hand, Saint Mary’s came into this game with their own impressive stats, having outscored their opponents by an average of 23 points during their eight-game winning streak. They recently bested the Broncos 67-54, with Paulius Murauskas nearly recording a double-double, grabbing nine points and 14 rebounds. Mitchell Saxen added 12 points, effectively helping the Gaels maintain their momentum.

Rebounding could be a crucial factor in the outcome of this game, as Gonzaga averages 39.5 rebounds per game while Saint Mary’s has slightly edged them with 40.5 rebounds per game. As the competition heats up, we’ll see which team can seize the advantage on the boards.

As it stands, Gonzaga is a slight favorite at 1.5 points, which is a flip from the Gaels’ status as a 1-point favorite earlier in the betting lines. The over/under for the game is set at 144.5 points. Both teams have shown their strengths, and as they head into the second half, all eyes will be on whether Gonzaga can mount a comeback, or if Saint Mary’s can hold their lead and stretch their win streak to ten.