Leading the Gaels’ charge: Paulius Murauskas scored 21 against the Broncos. / Photo by Ryan Barnett for SMC Athletics
Gaels Drop One-Point Heartbreaker to Boise State, 68–67
Saint Mary’s mounts a 15–2 run in the final minutes but comes up just short. Paulius Murauskas leads Gaels scoring with 21 points, and Joshua Dent adds 16.
The Saint Mary’s Men’s Basketball team (9–2) faced a tough battle against Boise State (8–3) on Sunday, narrowly falling 68–67 at the Mountain America Arena in Idaho Falls. The Gaels showcased resilience, outscoring the Broncos in the second half, including a 15–2 run over the final 4:09, but couldn't quite close the gap.
Joshua Dent was a standout with 16 points and six assists, playing a critical role in the Gaels’ efforts. Paulius Murauskas led the charge with 21 points and 11 rebounds, demonstrating his impact across both ends of the court. Dillan Shaw contributed 12 points, including two key 3-pointers.
How It Happened
The first half saw Boise State jump to an early 13–0 lead. Saint Mary's responded with a jumper from Joshua Dent, and contributions from Liam Campbell and Paulius Murauskas tied the game at 13–13. Despite a late 3-pointer from Dillan Shaw, the Gaels found themselves trailing 37–32 at halftime.
In the second half, the Gaels made a spirited comeback, outscoring Boise State 35–31, including a 15–2 run to close out the game. Murauskas was pivotal, scoring a critical 3-pointer with just 8 seconds left to trim the deficit to one. The Gaels got the ball back following a Boise State miss at the stripe, with a chance to win the game—but a physical play from the Broncos resulted in a Saint Mary's turnover to end the contest
While the loss was a heartbreaker, there were a couple of bright spots for the Gaels. Dillan Shaw achieved a new career-high with 12 points and played for the full 40 minutes for only the second time in his career. And Paulius Murauskas recorded his second double-double this season, the 15th of his career.
Up Next: Gaels vs. Owls in Moraga
Saint Mary's hosts Florida Atlantic on Friday, December 19. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. inside University Credit Union Pavilion. Purchase tickets and watch the game on ESPN+.
