Saint Mary's asserted its dominance in the West Coast Conference with a resounding 79-54 victory over San Francisco at the University Credit Union Pavilion. The Gaels' impressive performance was fueled by a balanced attack, with Paulius Murauskas leading the charge with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Mikey Lewis added 15 points, while Andrew McKeever chipped in with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Andrew McKeever's Double-Double Fuels Saint Mary's Victory
The Gaels set the tone early, taking a 40-29 lead into halftime. San Francisco struggled to find its rhythm, with Junjie Wang being the lone bright spot, scoring 14 points to pace the Dons. Despite a solid effort from Wang, San Francisco's offense was unable to keep up with the high-powered Gaels, who outscored the Dons 39-25 in the second half.
The win was predicted by CHD Scout, who forecasted a 16.8-point victory for Saint Mary's. The actual margin of 25 points exceeded expectations, a reflection of the Gaels' strong performance. Saint Mary's controlled the game from start to finish, never allowing San Francisco to gain momentum.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The Dons' top performers, aside from Wang, included David Fuchs, who contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Mookie Cook, who added 10 points and 5 rebounds. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Gaels.
This matchup had real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. For Saint Mary's, the win marked a Quadrant 3 victory, bolstering their already impressive record. With a current NET ranking of 29, the Gaels continue to solidify their position as a strong contender in the West Coast Conference. On the other hand, the loss was a Quadrant 1 opportunity missed for San Francisco, who slipped to 14-12 on the season.
The convincing win for Saint Mary's demonstrates their strength and depth, making them a formidable opponent in the conference. As the season progresses, the Gaels want to build on this momentum, while San Francisco will aim to regroup and refocus in pursuit of a tournament berth. With this result, Saint Mary's strengthens its tournament resume, while San Francisco's chances take a hit, highlighting the importance of capitalizing on opportunities against top-tier opponents.