The 17^th-ranked Saint Mary's Gaels (21-6) will compete against the Pepperdine Waves (12-18) for the second battle this season on Thursday, February 29 at 11:00 PM ET at the Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California. The Gaels boast an excellent chance at success, with a point spread at -15.5 (-110).

The Gaels have won their last 15 games, which included a blowout win over the Waves. Their most recent success was an 88-62 beating over the San Diego Toreros.

Aidan Mahaney leads them offensively with 13.9 points and 38.8 percent shooting from the field. He knocks down 81.0 percent of his foul shots, which could make an impact late in the game if needed.

The Gaels consistently achieve an average of 74.6 points per game with an impressive 46.6 percent field goal accuracy. Their ball movement is solid, averaging 16.1 assists, but there is room for improvement in seeking scoring opportunities against a team that struggles offensively.

Defensively, they limit opponents to 58.1 points, leading to a slightly positive point differential. The Gaels also boast strong defensive stats, including 39.9 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, and 6.7 steals per game.

The Waves have gone 3-2 in their last five battles and they recently snapped their two-game winning streak with a recent defeat. This was a 92-68 outing against the San Francisco Dons, as they came out slow with just 29 points in the first half of action.

Michael Ajayi currently leads them with 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds each game. He is making 46.6 percent of his field goals, but only connects on 71.1 percent of his free throw attempts.

The Waves consistently score an average of 73.1 points per game with a 45.3 percent success rate in field goals. Their ball movement leads to 13.0 assists per game, which is a bit lacking when compared to the Gaels’.

Defensively, they hold opponents to an average of 74.8 points, indicating a slight point differential compared to their offense. Additionally, they secure 33.6 rebounds, block 2.8 shots, and tally 5.0 steals per game and could significantly influence their overall performance.

MyBookie has established the odds for the college basketball matchup, suggesting that the Saint Mary's Gaels are favored by 15.5 points on the road. According to market analysis, there is a 95.3 percent probability of their triumph in this game.

Just a few games back, these two teams played each other with the Gaels absolutely destroying the Waves 103-59. It is interesting to see the market have them as 15.5-point favorites here, but look for them to win and cover this again.