Preview: Pacific Tigers vs. Santa Clara Broncos in WCC Championship

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The West Coast Conference men’s basketball championship on Sunday, March 8, 2026, pits the surging Santa Clara Broncos against the upset-minded Pacific Tigers at Orleans Arena.

Santa Clara (24-7), the tournament’s top seed, enters as the clear favorite. The Broncos, who won both regular-season meetings decisively (85-69 on Jan. 14 and 71-56 on Feb. 4), are riding high after a 93-72 rout of Oregon State in their regular-season finale. Their balanced attack is led by guard Jake Ensminger, who is coming off an efficient 8-point, 7-assist performance in that win. Santa Clara’s high-powered offense, which has scored 84 or more points in six of its last ten games, will test Pacific’s defense.

The Pacific Tigers (17-14) face a steep challenge, having lost four of their last five games, including a 61-72 home defeat to San Francisco on Feb. 28. Their path to the title game is a testament to their tournament resilience. The Tigers will lean heavily on point guard Jaden Clayton, who has been a bright spot during the late-season skid. Over his last six games, Clayton has averaged 8.8 assists, including a 10-assist effort against San Francisco. His ability to create offense for himself and others, like leading scorer Elias Ralph (19 points vs. San Francisco), is Pacific’s primary hope.

The matchup hinges on tempo and execution. Santa Clara’s potent, deep scoring must overcome any postseason nerves. Pacific must control the pace through Clayton, limit turnovers and find a way to slow a Broncos team that has had its number this season. A Tigers victory would require a near-perfect performance and likely their best defensive effort of the year.

The winner secures the WCC’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. For Santa Clara, it’s a chance to cap a dominant conference season. For Pacific, it’s an opportunity for a season-defining upset and a unlikely ticket to the Big Dance.