Loyola Marymount vs St. Mary’s Prediction Basketball Picks 1-6-24
Loyola Marymount Lions (7-8) vs St. Mary's Gaels (10-6)
2024-01-06 21:00:00 EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Loyola Marymount Lions +8 -- Over/Under: 129
(Get latest betting odds)
The St. Mary’s Gaels and the Loyola Marymount Lions meet in college basketball action from the Gersten Pavilion on Saturday night. Can St. Mary’s improve to 2-0 in conference play? Or will the Lions get their first WCC win of the year? Let’s dive in and find out with our St. Mary’s vs. Loyola Marymount Prediction.
St. Mary’s Team Preview
The St. Mary’s Gaels come into this one looking to build on back-to-back wins after an 81-70 win over San Diego last time out. Aidan Mahaney leads the Gaels in scoring with 13.4 PPG with 3.1 APG and Mitchell Saxen has 11.5 PPG with a team-high 8.6 RPG to lead the Gaels on the glass this season. Augustas Marciulionis has 10.9 PPG with a team-high 4.1 APG to lead the Gaels in assists so far this year while rounding out the trio of double-digit scorers for the Gaels and Joshua Jefferson has 9.3 PPG with 6.8 RPG as well this year. As a team, Saint Mary’s is averaging 71 PPG on 44.4% shooting from the field, 29.9% from three and 66.2% from the foul line this season.
Loyola Marymount Team Preview
The Loyola Marymount Lions come into this one looking to snap a three-game losing skid after a 68-57 loss to Santa Clara last time out. Dominick Harris leads the Lions in scoring with 14.1 PPG with 4 RPG while Alex Merkviladze has 10.8 PPG with a team-high 5.9 RPG to lead the Lions on the glass. Justin Wright has 10.7 PPG with 3.1 RPG and Justice Hill has 10 PPG with 4.2 APG to lead the Lions in assists while rounding out the group of double-digit scorers for LMU up to this point in the year. As a team, Loyola Marymount is averaging 73.5 PPG on 43.5% shooting from the field, 34.7% from three and 72.1% from the foul line this season.
St. Mary’s vs. Loyola Marymount Prediction
I’m on St. Mary’s here. I just see the Lions starting to stumble and I frankly want no part of them especially with how tenacious St. Mary’s defense can be. This is a Gaels team that goes through the motions offensively at times but on defense they stifle you and give you no room to breathe which is the last thing LMU needs right now. I think St. Mary’s delivers a statement performance here, so give me the Gaels in this one.
