Stellar performance: Freshman Dillan Shaw scored 14 and ripped down 10 rebounds, going for his first double-double. / Photo by Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics
Gaels Pick up 20th Win with 87–60 Drubbing of Toreros
Saint Mary’s dominated from the get-go. Freshman Dillan Shaw led the way with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Andrew McKeever went for 14, and four more Gaels joined in double figures.
Saint Mary's took care of business yet again on their home floor on Wednesday night, defeating the Toreros of San Diego, 87–60. The Gaels played 11 different players with 10 of them scoring in the overall team victory. Saint Mary’s has now notched 20 wins this season—making it 18 seasons in a row they have achieved this mark (2020–21 COVID-shortened season excluded).
At UCU Pavilion on Wednesday, Freshman Dillan Shaw put together a stellar performance, going for 14 points and 10 boards for his first collegiate double-double. Big man Andrew McKeever joined Shaw in double-double land with 12 points and 12 boards. Four other Gaels scored in double-figures: Liam Campbell with 11, and Paulius Murauskas, Mikey Lewis, and Mantas Juzenas all chipping in 10. While Joshua Dent did not score in double figures, he led the team with six assists, three steals, and no turnovers.
The Gaels’ Game from the Word Go
The Gaels (20–4, 9–2 West Coast Conference) imposed their will on the Toreros (10–15, 4–8 WCC) with a well-balanced attack, opening the game on a 10–0 run and riding that momentum all the way to a 44–25 halftime lead. Saint Mary's went five deep off their bench in the frame, with eight different Gaels scoring.
The offensive barrage continued in the second half, as Saint Mary's improved their already strong first half shooting tallies by shooting 57.7% from the field and 57.1% from three. The lead ballooned to as large as 36 points with 5:15 to go before the Gaels called the dogs off, eventually salting away the 27 point victory, their second highest margin of victory in a WCC contest this year.
Notable Numbers: Double Double-Doubles, Home Winning Streak, and More
The win on February 4 was the 22nd straight victory for the Gaels inside UCU Pavilion. They are now one short of their program record for consecutive home wins.
In earning his double-double, Dillan Shaw becomes the first Gael true freshman to record a double-double since Omar Samhan in 2006–07. With Andrew McKeever joining in double-double territory, this marks the first time the Gaels have had two double-doubles in a game since their defeat of Vanderbilt in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, courtesy Mitchell Saxen and Luke Barrett.
On Wednesday Mantas Juzenas scored a career-high 10 points—this is his first season with the Gaels—also burying a team-best three three pointers. The night saw the Gaels shoot 50% or better from both the field and three for the fifth time this season.
For Harry Wessels, the road to victory brought a milestone: He crossed the 500 career point mark. He needed just two points to do so, and he scored eight while pulling down five rebounds.
After the game, Liam Campbell noted to media that the night showed just how well the Gaels are working together as a team. “We have a lot of young guys,” he said. “Connectivity and chemistry is what is really helping us this season. We’re super tight, we’re super connected, and that really helps get the job done.”
While the Gaels cruised to victory in Moraga, up the coast in Portland, the Pilots pulled off a stunning upset of Gonzaga: The Pilots defeated the Zags 87–80. Portland came into the game with a losing record in WCC play—including a 75–69 defeat at the hands of the Gaels in January—but they’ve now shaken up conference standings and reminded everyone that the season is played one game at a time.
Up Next: Saint Mary’s vs USF on February 7 — and SMC Welcomes Three Gaels to the Athletics Hall of Fame
The Gaels play the middle game of their three-game homestand, hosting San Francisco on Saturday, February 7. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at UCU Pavilion. Get tickets and watch the game on ESPN2.
Before the game, Saint Mary’s welcomes three new members to the Athletics Hall of Fame. Kevin Will ’84 played football for the Gaels and was one of the best linebackers in all Division II football. Adam Bliss ’92 was a four-year member of the Men’s Soccer team—and is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Gaels. Michelle Mounts ’12 belonged to one of the best Softball teams in program history, winning back-to-back Pacific Coast Softball Conference titles.
The ceremony honoring these three Gaels takes place as part of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony, hosted in Saint Mary’s Soda Center beginning at 5 p.m. More information and tickets are available here.
