Santa Clara Tops Saint Mary's in Thrilling Finish
Monday, March 9, 2026, 11:45 PM ET · Orleans Arena
Santa Clara Broncos 76, Saint Mary's Gaels 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Santa Clara Broncos vs Saint Mary's Gaels?
Santa Clara Broncos beat Saint Mary's Gaels 76-71 at Orleans Arena on March 9, 2026.
Who was favored in Santa Clara Broncos vs Saint Mary's Gaels?
Saint Mary's Gaels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -218 (about 69% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Santa Clara Broncos edged out the Saint Mary's Gaels with a final score of 76-71. This victory was significant for Santa Clara, as it improved their record to 27-7, while Saint Mary's fell to 27-6. The game took place at Orleans Arena, showcasing the competitive spirit of both teams as they faced off in this pivotal NCAAB fixture.
Both teams entered the game with strong recent form. Saint Mary's had won eight consecutive games leading into this matchup, boasting a record of 9-1 in their last ten games. They averaged 77.7 points scored while allowing 64.0 points in that span. Their home record was a perfect 5-0 in their last five games, demonstrating their dominance on their home court. In contrast, Santa Clara had an 8-2 record over their last ten games, with an impressive scoring average of 85.9 points but a higher average of 75.9 points allowed. They also had a solid away record of 4-1 in their last five games.
Historically, this matchup has favored Saint Mary's, as they had won three out of the last four meetings against Santa Clara. Their most recent encounter prior to this game was on February 26, 2026, where Saint Mary's won decisively with a score of 86-67. However, Santa Clara's recent victory indicates a shift in momentum.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any significant player absences for either team, suggesting that both squads were at full strength for this crucial game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Saint Mary's as 4.5-point favorites with a moneyline of -218. Santa Clara, on the other hand, was priced at +180 on the moneyline, indicating that the market viewed them as underdogs.
The game conditions were conducive to a high-energy performance, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. As the game progressed, pivotal scoring plays defined the outcome. In the second half, Sash Gavalyugov made a driving layup that brought Santa Clara within two points at 66-64. Mikey Lewis responded with a three-pointer, extending the lead for Santa Clara to 69-68. The back-and-forth continued as Elijah Mahi contributed with a three-pointer and a layup, pushing Santa Clara ahead 73-69.
The final moments of the game saw Santa Clara maintain their lead, with Gavalyugov sealing the victory with a long-range shot that brought the score to 76-71. This thrilling finish highlighted the competitive nature of both teams and the significance of the matchup in the NCAAB landscape.
Viewers should have noted the strategic plays and individual performances that shaped the game, particularly the contributions of Gavalyugov and Mahi for Santa Clara, who played crucial roles in the second half. The intensity of the rivalry and the stakes involved made this matchup a compelling watch for basketball fans.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SMC -4.5 | 150.5 o -110 / u -110 | Santa Clara Broncos +180 · Saint Mary's Gaels -218 |
Leaders
- PointsPaulius Murauskas26Saint Mary's Gaels
- AssistsJoshua Dent7Saint Mary's Gaels
- ReboundsAndrew McKeever11Saint Mary's Gaels
- PointsSash Gavalyugov23Santa Clara Broncos
- AssistsSash Gavalyugov6Santa Clara Broncos
- ReboundsElijah Mahi7Santa Clara Broncos
Recent form
Saint Mary's Gaels
Last 10: 9-1Streak W877.7 scored · 64 allowed per game5-0 at home
- W70-59vs Gonzaga BulldogsMar 1
- W86-67vs Santa Clara BroncosFeb 26
- W83-67at Washington State CougarsFeb 22
- W72-70at Seattle U RedhawksFeb 19
- W72-61at Pacific TigersFeb 15
- W88-60vs Pepperdine WavesFeb 12
- W79-54vs San Francisco DonsFeb 8
- W87-60vs San Diego TorerosFeb 5
- L65-73at Gonzaga BulldogsFeb 1
- W75-69at Portland PilotsJan 25
Santa Clara Broncos
Last 10: 8-2Streak W285.9 scored · 75.9 allowed per game4-1 away
- W76-68vs Pacific TigersMar 9
- W93-72vs Oregon State BeaversMar 1
- L67-86at Saint Mary's GaelsFeb 26
- W94-73at San Francisco DonsFeb 22
- L86-94vs Gonzaga BulldogsFeb 15
- W84-72vs Seattle U RedhawksFeb 12
- W96-92at Washington State CougarsFeb 7
- W71-56at Pacific TigersFeb 5
- W104-73at Loyola Marymount LionsFeb 1
- W88-73vs San Francisco DonsJan 29
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 31-4 | - | 16-2 |
| Saint Mary's | 27-6 | - | 16-2 |
| Santa Clara | 26-9 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Oregon State | 17-16 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Seattle U | 21-14 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Pacific | 18-15 | 8 | 8-10 |
| San Francisco | 17-16 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Washington State | 12-20 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Portland | 15-19 | 10 | 6-12 |
| San Diego | 12-21 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Pepperdine | 9-23 | 12 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Santa Clara Broncos | Saint Mary's Gaels |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-62 | 24-54 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 11-25 | 6-20 |
| Three-point % | 44 | 30 |
| Free throws | 5-14 | 17-19 |
| Free throw % | 36 | 89 |
| Rebounds | 30 | 40 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 28 |
| Assists | 11 | 13 |
| Steals | 4 | 1 |
| Blocks | 4 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 6 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 22 |
| Fouls | 21 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 14 | 14 |
| Time in front | 52 | 40 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half30-33Sash Gavalyugov makes 25-foot three point jumper (Allen Graves assists)
- 1st Half32-33Elijah Mahi makes layup
- 1st Half32-35Joshua Dent makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half34-35Elijah Mahi makes 12-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half37-35Jake Ensminger makes 24-foot three point jumper (Christian Hammond assists)
- 2nd Half37-38Mikey Lewis makes 23-foot three point jumper (Joshua Dent assists)
- 2nd Half39-38Elijah Mahi makes driving layup
- 2nd Half39-40Paulius Murauskas makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half39-42Andrew McKeever makes 10-foot hook shot (Mikey Lewis assists)
- 2nd Half39-44Paulius Murauskas makes layup (Andrew McKeever assists)
- 2nd Half41-44Elijah Mahi makes 12-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half44-44Sash Gavalyugov makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half44-46Mikey Lewis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half47-46Sash Gavalyugov makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half47-49Paulius Murauskas makes 26-foot three point jumper (Joshua Dent assists)
- 2nd Half50-49Allen Graves makes 25-foot three point jumper (Christian Hammond assists)
- 2nd Half52-49Allen Graves makes layup (Sash Gavalyugov assists)
- 2nd Half52-51Paulius Murauskas makes layup
- 2nd Half52-53Mikey Lewis makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half55-53Sash Gavalyugov makes 24-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half56-53Bukky Oboye makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-54Mikey Lewis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-55Mikey Lewis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-55Thierry Darlan makes 4-foot alley oop dunk (Sash Gavalyugov assists)
- 2nd Half61-55Thierry Darlan makes 24-foot three point jumper (Sash Gavalyugov assists)
- 2nd Half61-57Paulius Murauskas makes 15-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half63-57Allen Graves makes driving layup
- 2nd Half64-57Allen Graves makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half64-59Andrew McKeever makes layup (Joshua Dent assists)
- 2nd Half64-62Paulius Murauskas makes 23-foot three point jumper (Mikey Lewis assists)
- 2nd Half64-63Paulius Murauskas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-64Paulius Murauskas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-64Sash Gavalyugov makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-67Mikey Lewis makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half68-67Sash Gavalyugov makes driving layup
- 2nd Half68-69Mikey Lewis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-69Elijah Mahi makes 25-foot three point jumper (Sash Gavalyugov assists)
- 2nd Half73-69Elijah Mahi makes layup (Sash Gavalyugov assists)
- 2nd Half73-71Joshua Dent makes 16-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half76-71Sash Gavalyugov makes 28-foot three pointer
Win probability
Above the line favours Saint Mary's Gaels, below favours Santa Clara Broncos.
Venue
- Orleans ArenaLas Vegas, NV
- Attendance6343
- OfficialsRandy McCall, Tony Padilla, Gregory Nixon
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