Saint Mary's Holds Off Portland 75-69 Behind Murauskas' 24 Points

Saint Mary's improved to 19-3 on the season with a hard-fought 75-69 victory over Portland at the Chiles Center. The Gaels, ranked 30th in the nation, were led by Paulius Murauskas, who scored 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Murauskas' performance was instrumental in Saint Mary's securing the win, as he consistently found ways to score against the Portland defense.

Portland, despite being outmatched, put up a strong fight, led by Joel Foxwell's 27 points and 5 assists. Foxwell's scoring outburst kept the Pilots within striking distance, but ultimately, Saint Mary's proved too strong. James O'Donnell added 18 points and 5 rebounds for Portland, while Cameron Williams chipped in with 10 points and 5 rebounds.

The game was closely contested throughout, with Saint Mary's taking a 38-34 lead into halftime. The Gaels extended their lead to as many as 10 points in the second half, but Portland refused to back down. The Pilots mounted a late surge, cutting the deficit to 4 points with just over a minute remaining. However, Saint Mary's held firm, with Murauskas and Joshua Dent combining to seal the win. Dent finished with 13 points and 7 assists, while Mikey Lewis added 15 points for the Gaels.

CHD Scout had predicted a Saint Mary's win by 9.4 points, and while the actual margin was slightly smaller, the prediction proved correct. The win was a reflection of Saint Mary's depth and resilience, as they navigated a tough road environment to emerge victorious.

For Portland, the loss drops them to 10-12 on the season, but the performance against a top-30 team like Saint Mary's will be a valuable learning experience. The Pilots can take pride in pushing the Gaels to the limit, and the game will be a Quadrant 1 contest on their resume, which could prove beneficial come tournament time.

The victory, on the other hand, is a Quadrant 3 win for Saint Mary's, but it keeps them on track for a strong tournament seed. With their current net ranking of 30, the Gaels are well-positioned to make a deep run in the postseason. As they continue to navigate their schedule, performances like Murauskas' matters in securing key wins and building momentum. The win over Portland is a solid addition to Saint Mary's resume, and they want to build on this momentum as they pursue a conference title and a high tournament seed.