Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Pick: Thursday, February 25th

Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Pick: Thursday, February 25th: Santa Clara has played three games since their pause of basketball activities due to positive Covid cases. They returned with a 76-73 loss to Loyola Marymount, followed that up with a 71-60 loss to San Diego, before defeating Pepperdine 86-82 on Sunday, all three games were played at home. Against Pepperdine, they won as 3.5 point underdogs. They scored a season-best 52 2nd half points led by Josip Vrankic, who went for 26. After a disappointing first game back, the 6’9 senior from Toronto has had two monster games combining for 51 points and 24 boards. He averages 15.4 points per game, along with 8.6 rebounds. Jalen Williams, and Keshawn Justice are the other Broncos averaging double digits. Keshawn Justice has been out with a concussion since January 23rd. This Broncos team struggles to shoot the ball, averaging just 41.7% from the field, 29.5% from behind the arc, and 68.8% from the foul line.

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Gonzaga is coming off their 3rd straight blowout victory, 106-69 at home vs San Diego. It was the 2nd time in 3 games that they crossed the century mark. They have won their last three games by an average of 32.7 points. Against San Diego, Drew Timme went for 21 points with 8 rebounds in just 22 minutes on 7/8 shooting. Jalen Suggs added 17 points of his own, while Corey Kispert added 16. Timme averages 19.1 and Kispert 19 on the season. The Bulldogs average 93.4 points per game, with 18.7 assists, and hit 55.4% from the field on the season.