SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — A pivotal West Coast Conference clash is set for Saturday when the No. 8-ranked Saint Mary’s Gaels visit the Santa Clara Broncos at Leavey Center.

The Gaels (17-2, 6-0 WCC), riding a nine-game winning streak, have established themselves as the team to beat in the conference. Their last loss was on Dec. 14. Saint Mary’s is coming off an 82-68 road win at San Francisco on Tuesday, led by 21 points from Paulius Murauskas and 19 points and seven assists from point guard Joshua Dent.

Dent has been the engine for the Gaels’ high-powered offense, averaging 15.1 points and 5.4 assists during the streak. He scored 26 in a win over Washington State on Jan. 10 and is averaging nearly 38 minutes per game in conference play.

The Broncos (15-5, 4-1) present the most significant threat to Saint Mary’s conference supremacy to date. Santa Clara’s lone WCC loss was an 89-77 defeat at Gonzaga on Jan. 8. They have since responded with dominant home wins over San Diego and Pacific, where they averaged 91.5 points.

Santa Clara is led by dynamic guard Christian Hammond, who is averaging 17.3 points in WCC games. He scored 21 against San Diego on Jan. 4 and 20 against Pepperdine on Jan. 2. Forward Allen Graves adds an interior presence, coming off a 17-point, three-block performance against Pacific.

The matchup features the conference’s top two teams in the standings. Saint Mary’s boasts the league’s best defense, allowing just 62.2 points per game, while Santa Clara possesses one of its most explosive offenses, scoring 84.2 per contest.

Historically, Saint Mary’s has controlled the series, but the Broncos have been competitive at home. The Gaels won both meetings last season.

Saturday’s winner will gain a critical early advantage in the WCC race. For Santa Clara, a victory would announce them as a true conference contender. For Saint Mary’s, it would solidify their top ranking and extend their commanding streak.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST. The teams will meet again in Moraga on Feb. 25.