WCC Game Preview: Santa Clara @ LMU

March 8, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Loyola Marymount Lions guard

(3) shoots past Santa Clara Broncos forward

(44) during the second half in the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference tournament at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

LMU Lions (11-17, 3-13) vs. Santa Clara Broncos (12-17, 5-11)

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014

Location: Gersten Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Time: 8:00 PM PST

TV: TWC SN, CSN BA, ROOT Sports NW & RM

Video: http://www.thew.tv

LiveStats: http://www.wccsports.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbaskbl.html?event=1286244&school=west&sport=mbaskbl&camefrom=&startschool=&

This Season: Santa Clara won the first matchup 86-81 in overtime at the Leavey Center.

PROJECTED STARTERS 

LMU

Anthony Ireland, 18.8 PPG 5.4 APG

Evan Payne, 15.1 PPG

Nick Stover, 4.1 PPG

Alex Osborne, 6.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG

Gabe Levin, 11.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG

Santa Clara

Jalen Richard, 4.1 PPG

Brandon Clark, 17.0 PPG, 3.5 APG

Jared Brownridge, 16.3 PPG

John McArthur, 4.2 PPG

Yannick Atanga, 2.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG

LIVESTREAM (Subject to blackout) *thew.tv: 

Keys to the Game

LMU

Get Ireland and Payne shots:  Anthony Ireland is playing his best basketball of the season as of late, and although LMU has not been winning, more defensive attention on Ireland could lead to more open shots for Evan Payne and the other role players for the Lions.

Santa Clara

Utilize the bench: Santa Clara has a lot coming off the bench.  The school’s all-time assists leader and 1500+ point scorer in Evan Roquemore, a two-year starter at Fresno State in  Jerry Brown, and a guy who 13.5 points per game over the final 11 games of the 2011-12 season in Denzel Johnson.  This is where the Broncos have the advantage over LMU: depth.  They need to make good use of it.

Key Matchup

Ireland/Payne vs. Clark/Brownridge:  These pairs of guards do a bulk of the scoring for their teams.  All are high volume shooters who can heat up in a hurry.  Whichever team’s backcourt can perform better will likely get the victory in this game.

Prediction

At this point, both teams are starting to build towards next season.  Young budding stars such as Jared Brownridge and Evan Payne will use this game to get better for next season.  LMU is at home, and the Lions will prevail.  LMU 69, Santa Clara 60.