The Saint Mary's Gaels delivered a resounding 88-60 victory over the Pepperdine Waves, led by Paulius Murauskas' 18 points and 5 rebounds. This decisive win improved the Gaels' record to 22-4, with their NET ranking standing at 28. The 28-point margin of victory was just shy of the predicted 36.3-point margin by the CHD Scout, but still a convincing display of the Gaels' strength. Saint Mary's outscored Pepperdine 48-29 in the first half, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Paulius Murauskas Leads Saint Mary's Gaels with 18 Points on 75% Shooting
The game unfolded with the Saint Mary's Gaels taking control from the outset, scoring 48 points in the first half to Pepperdine's 29. The Waves struggled to keep pace, scoring only 31 points in the second half, while the Gaels added 40 more points to their tally. The 19-point difference in the first half proved insurmountable for Pepperdine, as Saint Mary's maintained their lead throughout the game. At one point, the Gaels led by as many as 30 points, showcasing their dominance over the Waves. With 12 points and 7 rebounds, Dillan Shaw was another key contributor to the Gaels' victory, alongside Mikey Lewis' 13 points.
The top performers for both teams were standout, with Paulius Murauskas leading the way for the Saint Mary's Gaels with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Aaron Clark was the top scorer for the Pepperdine Waves, with 18 points of his own. Styles Phipps and Luka Vudragovic also made notable contributions for Pepperdine, with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, and 7 points, respectively. For the Gaels, Mikey Lewis added 13 points, while Dillan Shaw chipped in with 12 points and 7 rebounds. These performances highlight the talent on both teams, despite the significant difference in the final score.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
A closer look at the box score reveals some telling statistics. The Saint Mary's Gaels outscored the Pepperdine Waves by 19 points in the first half, with a 48-29 advantage. The Gaels' 40 points in the second half were matched by the Waves' 31 points, but the damage had already been done. The 28-point margin of victory for the Gaels is a reflection of their strength, outpacing the predicted 36.3-point margin by a relatively small amount. With 88 points scored, the Gaels demonstrated their ability to put up significant numbers, while the Waves' 60 points underscored their struggles to keep pace.
The CHD Scout predicted a decisive victory for the Saint Mary's Gaels, with a predicted score of 90-54 and a margin of 36.3 points. While the actual margin of 28 points was slightly lower than predicted, the Gaels still delivered a convincing win. This prediction was correct, as the Gaels emerged victorious, and the Scout's assessment of the teams' relative strengths was borne out by the final score. The predicted score and margin may have been slightly off, but the overall outcome was accurately forecasted, with the Gaels dominating the Waves as expected.
This game had real consequences for both teams' resumes, particularly in terms of their NET rankings. The Saint Mary's Gaels, currently ranked 28th in the NET, secured a Q4 win, which may not greatly impact their ranking but still adds to their overall strength of schedule. For the Pepperdine Waves, this loss was a Q1 game, which could potentially hurt their NET ranking, currently standing at 286. The 28-point margin of defeat may not be crippling, but it still underscores the Waves' struggles against stronger opponents like the Gaels. As the season progresses, these types of games matters in shaping the tournament picture and determining which teams will be in contention for a postseason berth.
The Saint Mary's Gaels want to build on this momentum in their next game, while the Pepperdine Waves will aim to bounce back from this decisive loss. With their respective schedules unfolding, both teams will face new challenges and opportunities to prove themselves. The Gaels, with their 22-4 record, want to maintain their position near the top of their conference, while the Waves will be seeking to improve their 6-20 record and make a push for a stronger finish to the season.