LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A West Coast Conference men’s basketball clash featuring two of the league’s hottest teams will tip off Sunday when the Saint Mary’s Gaels visit the Loyola Marymount Lions at Gersten Pavilion.

Saint Mary’s (11-2) enters on a three-game winning streak, most recently edging Northern Iowa 63-58 on Monday. The Gaels’ only losses are by a single point at Boise State and a neutral-court defeat to Vanderbilt. Loyola Marymount (9-4) has won two straight, including an 83-56 rout of Morgan State on Tuesday, but has dropped two of its last five.

The matchup pits a pair of high-scoring guards on a roll. Saint Mary’s will lean on Paulius Murauskas, who has averaged 20.3 points over his last three games, including a 21-point effort in a key win over Florida Atlantic. For the Lions, Rodney Brown is coming off a 23-point performance against Morgan State and has scored 19 or more in three of his last four outings.

Both teams have shown defensive capability, with the game’s over/under set at 137.5 points. The Gaels have held opponents to 65 points or fewer in eight of their 11 wins. The Lions’ losses, however, have seen defensive lapses, allowing an average of 78.5 points in those four games.

The contest serves as the conference opener for both squads, setting an early tone in the WCC standings behind perennial power Gonzaga. Saint Mary’s will look to establish its contender status on the road, while Loyola Marymount aims to defend its home court and notch a signature victory to bolster its resume.

Following this game, Saint Mary’s visits Pepperdine on Tuesday, while Loyola Marymount hosts Pacific the same evening.