Saint Mary's asserted its dominance over San Francisco, cruising to an 82-68 victory at The Sobrato Center. The Gaels' impressive performance was spearheaded by Paulius Murauskas, who poured in 21 points to lead all scorers. The win improves Saint Mary's record to 19-3, solidifying their position as a top contender.
The Gaels set the tone early, racing out to a 42-28 halftime lead. San Francisco struggled to contain Saint Mary's offense, which shot efficiently throughout the game. Murauskas was nearly unstoppable, using his quick footwork and agile moves to get past defenders and finish at the rim. His 21 points were complemented by Joshua Dent's 19 points and 7 assists, as well as Mikey Lewis' 14 points.
San Francisco, meanwhile, was led by Tyrone Riley IV's 16 points. Ryan Beasley added 15 points and 7 assists, while David Fuchs chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Despite these solid individual performances, the Dons were unable to mount a sustained challenge to Saint Mary's.
The second half saw Saint Mary's maintain its lead, as the Gaels continued to move the ball effectively and find open shooters. San Francisco made a few runs, but ultimately couldn't overcome the deficit. The Dons' 40 second-half points were not enough to overcome the Gaels' strong start.
This game had real consequences for both teams' resumes. For San Francisco, the loss drops their record to 13-9, but the game is still considered a Q1 opportunity due to Saint Mary's strong net ranking of 30. The Dons want to bounce back from this defeat and continue to build their case for a tournament bid.
For Saint Mary's, the win is a Q2 victory, but it's a reflection of the team's strength and depth. The Gaels' 19-3 record and net ranking of 30 make them a strong candidate for a high seed in the tournament. This win will only add to their momentum, as they continue to push for a conference title and a deep postseason run.
In the end, Saint Mary's' dominant performance and Murauskas' stellar play proved too much for San Francisco to handle. The Gaels' convincing win improves their resume and sets them up for success in the second half of the season. As the tournament picture begins to take shape, Saint Mary's is firmly establishing itself as a team to watch. With this win, the Gaels take a significant step forward in their pursuit of a tournament bid, and their strong record and net ranking make them a formidable opponent for any team in the country.