In Moraga, California, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in the Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s rivalry, with point guards Mario Saint-Supery and Joshua Dent poised to play pivotal roles. As these two rising stars prepare to clash in the final regular-season meeting between the teams as West Coast Conference opponents, fans are in for a treat.
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s have a storied history of producing top-tier point guards. Under the guidance of Mark Few since 1999 and Randy Bennett from 2001, both programs have seen players like Dan Dickau and Patty Mills rise to prominence. Now, Saint-Supery and Dent have the chance to etch their names alongside these legends with a standout performance in the 121st matchup between these teams.
Joshua Dent, stepping into the shoes of two-time WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis, has shown promise in his first season as a starter. Although he hasn’t yet matched Marciulionis’ mastery, Dent’s numbers are impressive: averaging 13.3 points, 5.8 assists, and shooting a solid 39.3% from beyond the arc. His recent performance against Santa Clara, where he scored 14 points and dished out eight assists, helped secure the Gaels the No. 2 seed in the WCC Tournament.
On the other side, Mario Saint-Supery has been making his mark for Gonzaga. In their previous encounter with Saint Mary’s, he logged significant minutes and contributed nine points and five assists. As the Zags prepare for this rematch, Saint-Supery’s role will be crucial, especially given the challenges posed by the Gaels’ talented sophomore shooting guard, Mikey Lewis, who’s been on a scoring spree.
Gonzaga’s defense will need to be on point, particularly against Dent and Lewis. The Zags have had mixed results against Australian point guards this season, but with their versatile perimeter defense, they’ll look to contain Saint Mary’s offensive threats.
Coach Randy Bennett acknowledges the growth and challenges faced by his young players, noting the typical ups and downs of developing into key contributors. As both teams gear up for this high-stakes showdown, the performances of Saint-Supery and Dent could very well determine the outcome, adding another memorable chapter to this enduring rivalry.