Loyola Marymount Lions vs Saint Mary’s Gaels Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Loyola Marymount vs Saint Mary's NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Moraga.

Loyola Marymount vs Saint Mary's Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Lions and Gaels. The game is starting at 11:00 ET on ESPN2, and it's hosted by the Gaels at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, CA. Get ready to place your bets! This West Coast conference matchup has an over/under of 134.5 points, and Saint Mary's is favored to win by -14.5 at home vs. Loyola Marymount.

Loyola Marymount vs. Saint Mary's Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Loyola Marymount Lions at Saint Mary's Gaels
Where: Moraga at University Credit Union Pavilion
Date: Tuesday, January 7th
Betting Odds STMRY -14.5, LOYMRY +890 | STMRY -2133 O/U 134.5

Lions Preview: Can Loyola Marymount Stun the Crowd at University Credit Union Pavilion?

Loyola Marymount Lions Recent Game/Games

Loyola Marymount fell to 8-7 on the season after a 96-68 home loss to Gonzaga on Saturday. The Lions were +16 underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 164, surpassing the O/U line of 152.5.

LMU trailed 46-28 at halftime and allowed 50 points in the 2nd half while scoring 40 of their own. The Lions will look to regroup after this tough loss.

Lions Offense Breakdown

Loyola Marymount managed just 68 points in their last game, shooting 38.2% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 45.5%. They hit 33.3% from three-point range, going 8-for-24, and connected on 72% of their free throws, making 18 of 25 attempts. The Lions grabbed 8 offensive rebounds and dished out 10 assists as a team.

Graham Ike and Khalif Battle led the way for LMU, with Ike scoring 27 points and grabbing 9 rebounds on 12-for-16 shooting. Battle added 26 points, hitting 10 of 12 shots overall and 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. Will Johnston also knocked down 4 threes, finishing with 18 points, while Jevon Porter struggled, shooting 4-for-14 from the field and 2-for-7 from deep.

Lions Team Defense

Even with Loyola Marymount holding their opponent to 38% shooting, the Lions still gave up 96 points. They allowed 21 field goals on 55 attempts, including 13 two-pointers at a 41% clip.

From beyond the arc, Loyola Marymount's defense saw their opponent hit 8 threes on 24 attempts, shooting 33%. They also sent them to the line 25 times, where they converted 18 free throws at 72%.

Gaels Preview: Will the Gaels Find a Way to Win at Home?

Saint Mary's improved to 12-3 on the season with an 81-58 road win over Portland on Saturday, January 4th. The Gaels entered the game as -18 favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 139 went over the pre-game line of 136.5.

After leading 28-19 at halftime, Saint Mary's exploded for 53 points in the 2nd half, while allowing 39 points to the Pilots.

Gaels Offense Breakdown

Saint Mary's put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 44.1% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 50%, and they hit 68.4% of their free throws, going 13-for-19 from the line.

The Gaels grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and dished out 20 assists. Augustas Marciulionis led the way with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, shooting 43.8% overall and 50% from three-point range (3/6).

Gaels Team Defense

Saint Mary's put on a defensive clinic, holding their opponent to just 58 points on 37% shooting from the field. The Gaels were particularly effective inside, limiting two-point attempts to 38% shooting.

From beyond the arc, Saint Mary's allowed 7 threes on 20 attempts, a 35% success rate. They sent their opponent to the line 14 times, where they converted 11 free throws for 78%. The Gaels also gave up 12 offensive rebounds.

Lions vs Gaels Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Through their last three road games, Loyola Marymount has an ATS record of just 0-3. However, their overall record was 0-3 while averaging 56 points per game.
The Gaels are 2-1 ATS in their last three home games and 2-1 straight-up.
Going back to their previous five games as the underdog, Loyola Marymount has an ATS mark of 2-3 while going 2-3 straight up.
Although the Gaels have a strong straight up record in their last five games as the betting favorite, they have not done as well vs the spread going 2-3.