Men's Basketball Cruises Past Holy Names 78-33

Sunday, November 24

McKeon Pavilion

7:05 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

Holy Names

Men's Basketball Cruises Past Holy Names 78-33

11/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Nov 25, 2002

Box Score

Aw1

MORAGA, CA (AP) - Chase Poole and Daniel Kickert scored 16 each to lead Saint Mary's to an easy 78-33 season-opening victory over visiting Holy Names College Sunday night.

The Gaels coasted past the outmanned Hawks by outscoring them 53-14 during the final 25 minutes of the game. But it was hardly a game of style for Saint Mary's, which shot 45 percent (30 of 66) from the floor and 56 percent (10 of 18) from the line.

Ross Benson scored 15 and pulled down a game high nine rebounds for the Gaels, who also got 13 points from Tyler Herr.

Holy Names (0-6) was led by Miguel Vargas' seven points. The Hawks connected on only 23 percent (13 of 56) from the floor, making just 15 percent (4 of 26) in the second half.

Even though the little NAIA school from nearby Oakland had lost their first five games of the season by an average of 29 points to other NAIA and NCAA small college opponents, Holy Names managed to stay in the game through the first 15 minutes. Saint Mary's was leading by only six, at 25-19, until scoring 13 unanswered points in the last 5 minutes of the first half for a 38-19 lead at intermission.

The 45-point victory by the Gaels was the ninth-best margin of victory. The Saint Mary's defense held the Hawks to just 33 points, which is the lowest total by an opponent in 16 years and the second lowest total in the last 42 years.

Saint Mary's will return to action when it travels to Eastern Washington for a Tuesday evening match-up. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 7:00 PM at Reese Court in Cheney, WA.