Pacific at Saint Mary's

After a tough to end 2015 with suspensions and an NCAA investigation, Pacific catches a break at the starts of 2016 with key players returning to the frontcourt. Senior power forward Eric Thompson will be reinstated to the full roster this week. The Tigers senior forward sat out the first half of the 2015-16 season. Thompson, the Tigers muscle in the middle, returns after averaging 8.2 points and 5.6 rebounds as a junior after transferring in from Saddleback Junior College. He joins a Tigers front line that was bolstered to start the new calendar year when seven-footer Sami Eleraky (6.3 points per game) rejoined the team prior to Pacific's contest against BYU on January 2. Since returning Eleraky has made 7-of-11 shots and pulled down 11 boards. The teams comes off a 60-58 win at Loyola as a +3.5 dog. They are a big dog to a St. Mary's squad that is home but off a 67-64 defeat at Pepperdine as -9 chalk. It's a look-ahead spot for St. Mary's, as well, with a showdown against Gonzaga on deck. The improving visitors match up well and have more than enough to hang within this giant number. Play Pacific.