Star of the night: Paulius Murauskas led the Gaels with 24 points, including three triples. / Photo by Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics
Three and ‘D’ Leads the Gaels to a 21 Point Win over Portland
Saint Mary’s lights up the court with 10 three-pointers and shuts down the Pilots with a suffocating defense. Paulius Murauskas shines with 24 points. And Mikey Lewis hits the 500 point milestone.
In their first game of 2026, Saint Mary’s Men’s Basketball showcased their dominance with a commanding 78–57 win over Portland on Friday night at UCU Pavilion. The Gaels lit up the court with 10 three-pointers offensively, while running the Pilots off the line to the tune of a 2–19 perimeter shooting clip in the 21 point victory.
Paulius Murauskas was the star of the night, leading with 24 points, including three buckets from beyond the arc, and adding seven rebounds and five assists to just one turnover. Harry Wessels was a defensive powerhouse with 10 points and three blocks. Joshua Dent orchestrated the offense brilliantly, dishing out seven assists, scoring seven points, and grabbing four rebounds. Rory Hawke chipped in 11 points off the bench on 4-of-5 shooting (1–2 from three), showing his versatility both inside and beyond the arc.
The Gaels are undefeated at home this season and are one of three undefeated teams in West Coast Conference play.
Take the Lead and Don’t Look Back
Portland (7–9, 0–3 WCC) scored the first bucket of the game, but Saint Mary’s (14–2, 3–0 WCC) responded with a 9–0 run, making sure that the Pilots would not see the lead again. Back-to-back buckets from Paulius Murauskas and Rory Hawke gave the Gaels their first double-digit lead with 5:30 left in the first half, and sparked a 14–4 run to close out the frame, pushing the lead out to 42–27 at the break.
To open the second half, Paulius Murauskas and Dillan Shaw knocked down back-to-back threes to give the Gaels a 21 point lead. That lead would jump to as large as 26 twice in the frame, before eventually settling back at 21 when the final horn sounded.
Season Highs and the Big 500
Saint Mary’s nailed double-digit triples for the fourth time this season, with Paulius Murauskas and Liam Campbell each hitting three. When it came to defense, the Gaels punished Portland’s nine turnovers, converting those into 17 points. The Gaels’ perimeter defense also limited Portland to a season-low 10.5% (2–19) from three-point range. And this victory marked Saint Mary’s 17th consecutive win over the Pilots.
For Mikey Lewis, Friday was a milestone night: He reached 500 career points in his 51st game with the Gaels. For Paulius Murauskas, the night saw him match his season-highs with 24 points, three triples, and five assists.
Up Next: Gaels vs. Seattle U
The Gaels host Seattle U at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga on Sunday, January 5. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. Get tickets and watch the game on ESPN+.
