Three pairs: Harry Wessels had two offensive rebounds, two defensive rebounds, and two steals against Florida Atlantic. / Photo by Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics
Gaels Outmuscle Florida Atlantic in 88–75 Victory
Saint Mary’s forces 15 turnovers and racks up 50 points in the second half. Joshua Dent leads the charge with 24 points and six assists, and Paulius Murauskas chips in 21 points and hits 13 of 14 from the free-throw line.
The Saint Mary's Men’s Basketball team delivered an impressive performance on Friday night, capturing an 88–75 win over Florida Atlantic at UCU Pavilion. The Gaels showcased their strength on the boards, pulling down a total of 45 rebounds, including 15 offensive. And they showed prowess in the paint, with 40 scored in the key, to power their victory.
Joshua Dent led the charge with 24 points, six assists, and a career-high seven rebounds, setting the tone offensively. Paulius Murauskas made his mark with 21 points, hitting 13 of 14 from the free-throw line, both career-highs, and grabbing nine rebounds. Andrew McKeever was solid off the bench with 14 points, shooting six for seven from the field, and pulling down 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double. Mikey Lewis rounded out the double-digit scorers, adding 12 points and three assists with no turnovers, bolstering the backcourt.
Dominating Early and Widening the Lead
The Gaels (10–2) trailed briefly 3–2, but that didn’t last; a Harry Wessels layup at 17:04 put the Gaels in front for good. In dominating early, Saint Mary’s established a strong presence in the paint and scored 20 of their 38 first-half points inside. Mikey Lewis was pivotal, nailing a three-pointer with 31 seconds left to extend Saint Mary's lead. Florida Atlantic (8–4) stayed in the mix, with Devin Williams hitting two late threes to close the gap. Despite this, the Gaels took advantage of the Owls’ 10 turnovers, heading into halftime up 38–30.
Saint Mary’s expanded their lead back to double-digits in the second half; a Harry Wessels free throw and a Mikey Lewis layup pushed the score to 41–30. Florida Atlantic answered back with a three from Isaiah Elohim and a layup from Maxim Logue, narrowing the deficit to six, but that was as close as they would get in the second half. A pair of Joshua Dent free throws with 7:24 to go widened Saint Mary’s lead to 20, and while FAU continued to push back, the Gaels held firm, outscoring FAU 50–45 in the half to secure the win.
Along with the win, the night yielded some notable numbers. The Gaels’ 50-point second half marked their second time this season with 50 or more points in a half. Saint Mary’s also forced a season-high 15 turnovers from FAU. The Gaels are now averaging over 80 points per game following their 88-point performance.
In terms of individual high marks, Joshua Dent tied his career-high with 24 points and set a new personal best with seven rebounds. Paulius Murauskas notched career-highs with 13 made free throws and 14 attempts. Andrew McKeever recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Up Next: Gaels Host the Panthers
Saint Mary's takes the court against Northern Iowa at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga on Monday, December 22. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Pacific. Get your tickets and watch the game on ESPN+.
