SAN BRUNO, Calif. - West Coast Conference men's basketball continues non-conference play with six teams ranked in the top 80 in the current NET rankings. Key matchups this week include Washington State battling in-state rival Washington in Seattle, Oregon State heading to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic and Saint Mary's hosts 10-1 Utah State.   

Fast Facts
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The WCC currently boasts four teams in the top 50 in the NET rankings, and one of only five conferences to have four or more in the top 50.

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Oregon State currently boasts the nation's fifth-ranked scoring defense (56.9 ppg). The Beavers held UC Irvine to 20 points below its season scoring average last week.

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The WCC currently ranks No. 7 among all conferences in the latest KenPom rankings.

Notes
Gonzaga remains ranked in the top 10 in the latest national polls, checking in at No. 13 in the Associated Press poll and No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches poll.

The WCC garners four teams in the top 50 of the NET rankings. Gonzaga leads the way at No. 4, followed by No. 36 Oregon State, No. 45 Saint Mary's and No. 48 San Francisco. The WCC also boasts six teams in the top 80 in the NET with No. 69 Washington State and No. 79 Santa Clara adding to the ranks.

The WCC ranks third among all conferences in total rebounding (38.1 rpg) and blocked shots (4.05 bpg).

The WCC continues to feature three teams in the top 25 nationally in scoring defense led by No. 5 Oregon State (56.9 ppg). San Francisco checks in at No. 18 nationally, allowing 62.0 ppg and Saint Mary's is 23rd (63.4 ppg). OSU also stands No. 7 in the nation field goal percentage defense (36.8 percent) and No. 16 in scoring margin (19.8).

Gonzaga ranks seventh in the nation in scoring offense (88.3 ppg), tied for 10th in assists per game (19.0) and 20th in scoring margin (18.7).

National honors candidate Ryan Nembhard of Gonzaga leads the nation in assists at 10.3 apg. No other player in the nation is currently averaging more than nine per game. Nembhard's efforts have given Gonzaga a No. 2 national ranking in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.08).

Saint Mary's ranks 14th in the nation in rebounding margin (9.8 rpg). Following a contest against Merrimack tomorrow night, the Gaels host Utah State on Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN+. The contest will feature a battle between the Gaels' 23rd-ranked scoring defense vs. the Aggies' 17th-ranked scoring offense.

Following last night's 82-45 win over Sacramento State in Corvallis, Oregon State heads to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic during the Christmas holiday. The Beavers open the MTE against Charleston at noon on Sunday on ESPNU. Holding the Hornets to 45 points last night, OSU owns three of the eight lowest single-game scoring totals allowed this season.

Overcoming a double-digit first-half deficit, Malik Thomas posted a WCC season-high 35 points to lift San Francisco to a big neutral-site win over Loyola Chicago last Sunday. The 35-point effort by Thomas marked the fourth time this season a WCC player has scored 30 points in a game. The Dons, enjoying a five-game winning streak, have another huge road test tonight at Bradley at 5 p.m. on ESPN+. Thomas trails over Pepperdine's Stefan Todorovic (18.9) for the WCC's scoring lead at 18.6 ppg.

Missing its leading scorer for the rest of the season in Cedric Coward (17.7 ppg), Washington State hasn't missed a beat, handling Missouri State last week, 91-78. The Cougars battle in-state rival Washington tonight at 8 p.m. on FS1. Winners of six of its last seven, five of WSU's six wins during that span have been by double digits.

Prior to squaring off with USF tonight, Bradley lost to Santa Clara last week, 84-74, in a neutral-site game in Henderson, Nev. Elijah Mahi (23), Christoph Tilly (21) and Carlos Stewart (20) all scored 20 points for the Broncos.