Gonzaga @ Loyola Marymount preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 17, 2019 ) Loyola Marymount 55, Gonzaga 73

Third-ranked Gonzaga looks to increase its winning streak to 15 games when it visits Loyola Marymount on Thursday in West Coast Conference play. The Bulldogs have recorded 10 30-point victories during the stretch and they annihilated Saint Mary's 94-46 last Saturday.

Gonzaga has won its past 20 games against Loyola Marymount, including a 73-55 home win earlier this season, and doesn't figure to suffer from any letdown in the rematch. "The coaches talk everybody up, they let us know every game is going to be a battle," backup senior guard Geno Crandall told reporters. "We're going to get everybody's best shot. We have to come in with the same idea. It's kind of been a theme for us, come out with an edge." Junior forward Rui Hachimura became the 43rd player in school history to reach 1,000 career points -- he has 1,005 -- and averages a team-best 20.2 per game. The Lions are fresh off a 72-55 road victory against Portland and have played well with a 10-2 mark at "Hank's House" -- dubbed for the late Hank Gathers, the star player who collapsed and died during a 1990 game.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT GONZAGA (23-2, 10-0 WCC): Hachimura and junior power forward Brandon Clarke (averages of 16.8 points and eight rebounds) are battling for conference player of the year honors and Clarke has set a school record with 77 blocked shots. Senior point guard Josh Perkins (10.4 points, 6.8 assists) ranks second in school history with 648 assists, just 20 behind leader Matt Santangelo (1996-2000). "It means a lot, it means hard work is paying off," Perkins told reporters. "Once I leave here I can look back and reflect on that. At the moment we're still chasing a title."

ABOUT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT (17-8, 5-6): Loyola Marymount hasn't defeated the Bulldogs since a 74-66 home win on Feb. 18, 2010, and is hoping its defensive prowess will at least provide for a competitive game. The Lions are 10-1 when holding opponents to 60 or fewer points while allowing an average of 61.8 and are accumulating 7.2 steals per game, led by senior guard James Batemon (43), sophomore guard Joe Quintana (37) and senior guard Jeffery McClendon (32). Batemon averages a team-best 16.8 points and poured in 28 in the victory over Portland.

TIP-INS

1. Gonzaga is 41-3 versus Loyola Marymount during coach Mark Few's 19-season tenure.

2. Lions junior C Mattias Markusson is shooting 58.7 percent from the field but is just 2-of-11 over the past two games.

3. Bulldogs F Killian Tillie (foot) is done for the rest of the regular season with the team holding out hope he could return for the NCAA Tournament.

PREDICTION: Gonzaga 87, Loyola Marymount 63