Basketball player Paulius Murauskas drives against Pepperdine in February 2026

Supercharged: For the second year in a row on Lithuania Night, Paulius Murauskas led Gael scoring. / Photo by Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics

Gaels Notch Program Record 24th Consecutive Home Victory, Down Pepperdine 88–60

On Lithuania Night, Paulius Murauskas leads the way with 18 points. Mikey Lewis scores 13, and Joshua Dent and Dillan Shaw add 11. Saint Mary’s now has the No. 2 home win streak in college basketball this season.

by Ryan Barnett, Assistant Athletic Director for Communication | February 12, 2026

The Saint Mary's Gaels took care of business on Wednesday night in Moraga, defeating the Pepperdine Waves 88–60. The win marked the Gaels’ 24th straight victory inside UCU Pavilion, establishing a new program record. The Gaels now lay claim to the second best home win streak of any team in Division I college basketball this season—and fourth current home win streak overall.

The game was also Saint Mary’s second annual Lithuania Night, and star Lithuanian forward Paulius Murauskas led the offensive onslaught with 18 points. Joining Murauskas in double figures was Mikey Lewis with 13, getting to double digits for the third straight game. Fellow starters Joshua Dent and Dillan Shaw each chipped in 12, with Dent adding 11 assists for his third double-double, and Shaw ripping down seven rebounds. Harry Wessels led the rebounding front with a career-high 11, helping the Gaels to a +21 rebounding advantage.

Basketball player Dillan Shaw shoots against Pepperdine in February 2026 — Beyond the arc: **Dillan** **Shaw** hit four three pointers, the most for the Gaels. / *Photo by Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics*

A Big Lead That Got Bigger

To mark Lithuania Night, along with a violin performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the crowd stood for the playing of the national anthem of Lithuania. It’s fair to say that Paulius Murauskas looked supercharged after hearing those measures.

Then for the opening stanza on the maplewood, the Gaels (22–4, 11–2 West Coast Conference) rained three pointers at a staggering rate, burying 10 in the first half, a new season-high. Not only did the threes come at a high volume, but also were shot at an efficient clip: The Gaels went 10–16 in the half, building a lead as large as 20, before ultimately settling for a 48–29 halftime lead.

Saint Mary's used a 10–0 run midway through the second half to extend their lead over Pepperdine (6–20, 1–12 WCC) out to 31, the largest of the contest. The Gaels kept the lead right around the 30 point mark for the remainder of the game, cruising to an 88–60 victory at the final horn. The Saint Mary’s fight song “On to Victory” then rang through the stands for 24th straight home game.

Basketball players Paulius Murauskas and Mantas Juzenas in February 2026 — Lithuania West: **Paulius Muraskas**, left, and **Mantas Juzenas** in special Lithuania Night T-shirts / *Photo by Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics*

SMC’s Lithuanian Duo

It was a victory that both of Saint Mary’s Lithuanian players shared in. For the second consecutive Lithuania Night, Paulius Murauskas led all Gaels scorers, this year dropping 18 on 7–13 shooting and 3–4 shooting from beyond the arc. An addition to Saint Mary’s this season, Mantas Juzenas of Kaunas, Lithuania, scored eight, including a pair of threes.

The Gaels have won all 15 games at home this season—good for the second most of any team in DI College Basketball. And the 24-game streak of W’s at home tops a program best that had stood for four seasons: From February 22, 2022 to November 30, 2022, Saint Mary’s won 23 in a row at home.

Against Pepperdine, the Gaels as a team matched their season-high in assists, with 24. They also shot better than 50% from the field and from the three—for the sixth time this season.