Gonzaga (24-8) at Saint Mary’s (28-4)
- When: Mar 11 2025, 9:00 PM
- Where: Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Where to watch: ESPN
Game Preview
Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary’s: WCC Championship Betting Preview
Spread: Gonzaga -3.5 | Total: 137.5
Saint Mary’s Outlook
Saint Mary’s enters this championship matchup with momentum and a mission—not only to defend their West Coast Conference tournament title but also to sweep Gonzaga for the season after winning both regular-season meetings. The Gaels have already locked up an NCAA Tournament berth, but adding another trophy to their collection would solidify their standing.
Saint Mary’s reached the final after dominating Pepperdine 74-59 in the semifinals, extending their winning streak to eight games. The Gaels controlled the boards, 45-22, and got key performances from:
✅ Paulius Murauskas (15 points, 10 rebounds) – His 13th double-double of the season
✅ Augustas Marciulionis (15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) – The two-time WCC Player of the Year
“We just wore them down on the boards,” coach Randy Bennett said. “I thought we played well until the last six minutes.”
Saint Mary’s won both meetings against Gonzaga this season:
62-58 home victory (Feb. 1) – Mikey Lewis led the way with 16 points
74-67 road win (Feb. 22) – Lewis again delivered, draining five 3-pointers and scoring 18
🔹 Player Props to Watch – Saint Mary’s
✅ Mikey Lewis Over 14.5 Points – He’s been Gonzaga’s kryptonite, stepping up in both matchups.
✅ Paulius Murauskas Over 6.5 Rebounds – The Gaels dominated the glass in the semis and should have the edge inside again.
Gonzaga Outlook
The Bulldogs are no strangers to this stage, appearing in their 28th straight WCC title game. However, they haven’t beaten Saint Mary’s this season, and a third loss to their conference rival would sting.
Despite losing both meetings, Gonzaga has more than enough firepower to flip the script. The Bulldogs piled up 50 second-half points in their 85-76 semifinal win over San Francisco, fueled by:
✅ Graham Ike (27 points, 10 rebounds) – The Bulldogs’ best post scorer
✅ Khalif Battle (21 points) – The high-volume guard ready for revenge
Battle made it clear that Gonzaga needs to dictate the pace and prevent Saint Mary’s from slowing the game down.
“Everybody knows the Zags can score with the best of them,” he said. “Now it’s time to get the job done.”
🔹 Player Props to Watch – Gonzaga
✅ Graham Ike Over 17.5 Points – Averaging 21.5 PPG against Saint Mary’s this season.
✅ Khalif Battle Over 1.5 Threes – He will need to be aggressive from deep for Gonzaga to break Saint Mary’s defensive scheme.
Betting Prediction
This WCC Championship game will be a highly competitive battle, with Saint Mary’s looking for the season sweep and Gonzaga trying to avoid going winless against their rivals.
Best Bet: Saint Mary’s +3.5 – The Gaels have figured out how to frustrate Gonzaga, and they’ve covered in both meetings this season.
Lean on the Under (137.5) – Saint Mary’s dictates pace and limits transition buckets, which could keep this game lower-scoring.
Expect another gritty showdown, with Saint Mary’s keeping it within the number—even if Gonzaga finds a way to win this time.
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
