Twenty for the night: Darius Bivins led scoring for Saint Mary’s and shot 9–12. / Photo by Varun Aravind for SMC Athletics
Offensive Efficiency on Display Again as Gaels Down UIC 84–61
In this highly-anticipated mid-major showdown, freshman Darius Bivins leads the way with 20 points. Mantas Juzenas adds 14, and Vangelis Zougris scores 12. The Gaels are now unbeaten at home 29 games in a row.
Saint Mary’s Men’s Basketball was once again able to showcase their offensive firepower on Friday night, defeating the UIC Flames 84–61 before a raucous crowd in the UCU Pavilion. The Gaels now move to 3–1 on the year—and they extend their home unbeaten streak to 29 in a row. Only three other teams in the country can claim that many.
Friday night was Veterans Appreciation Night in Moraga, and the Saint Mary’s veterans saw the home team deliver on offense, defense, and rebounding. The Gaels shot 50% or better from the field for the third time this season while also burying double-digit three pointers for the third time.
True freshman Darius Bivins continued to turn heads, recording his first collegiate 20-point contest. He did it with ultra efficiency, connecting on 9-of-12 field goal attempts, including 2-of-4 three point attempts. Bivins also was able to showcase his versatility and playmaking ability with five rebounds and four assists to just one turnover over his 27 minutes of action.
Mantas Juzenas logged his second double-double of the season, going for 14 points and 10 boards. Vangelis Zougris joined Juzenas and Bivins in double-figures with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Point guard Joshua Dent took a back seat on the scoring front after his 30 against Nevada this past Sunday, but to end the week this maestro of the Gaels’ offense contributed 10 assists while giving up just one turnover.
Mid-Major Showdown in Moraga
This highly anticipated mid-major showdown lived up to the billing for the first 10 minutes of play: The Flames and the Gaels played to a 17–17 deadlock at the midway point of the first half. Then the Gaels were able to put on the defensive clamps, making life tough for every UIC player who touched the floor, and closing out the half on a 25–7 run.
Seven different Gaels scored in those epic 10 minutes. Darius Bivins led the way with 10 points, giving him 16 points in the half on a perfect 7-for-7 clip. Mantas Juzenas added 11 points in the half, while point guard Joshua Dent had assists on six of the Gaels’ 16 made baskets.
More impressively, the Gaels pounded UIC on the glass in the first half, owning a +11 rebounding advantage, helping lead to a +10 second chance scoring advantage.
The Gaels kept the pedal to the metal in half number two, and with 2:35 remaining in the contest, picked up their first 30-point lead at 81–51. UIC would chip away at the deficit over the final couple minutes, but when the dust settled, the Gaels walked away with a decisive 84–61 win.
Vangelis Zougris led the Gael attack in the second half, scoring all 12 of his points in the second stanza.
Head Coach Mickey McConnell was able to get every active player on the floor Friday night for the second time in four games this season. Altogether no Gael exceeded 28 minutes of action.
Offense Plus Defense Plus Winning on the Glass
The Gaels have now scored at least 80 in their first four games this season—making this the second consecutive year they’ve managed that feat. And the defense had their best showing of the young season, limiting the Flames to 36.4% shooting from the field and 27.8% from three. When it comes to rebounds, the Gaels held a season-best +15 rebound margin.
Along with a career-high 20 points for Darius Bivins, the night marked the second collegiate double-double for Mantas Juzenas, who logged 14 points and 10 boards. He’s currently averaging a double-double for the season: 16.8 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Vangelis Zougris scored 12 points, all in the second half, and continues to be close to automatic around the rim, shooting 76.9% from the field for the year. Joshua Dent came up one point shy of a double-double, but reached double-digit assists for the fourth time in his career.
Up Next: Gaels host Portland State on November 16
The Gaels continue their four game homestand, hosting Portland State on Monday, November 16 for International Night. Tip-off for that contest in UCU Pavilion is set for 7 p.m. Get your tickets at smcgaels.com/tickets or stream the game live on ESPN+.
Story updated November 14, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Pacific
