Jan. 4, 2005

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. (AP) - Daniel Kickert made his final eight field-goal attempts, including five 3-pointers, to help Saint Mary's break open a close game in the second half and beat BYU 72-51 Tuesday night.

The Gaels (12-4) head into conference play on a roll, having won six straight games overall and a school record-tying nine in a row at McKeon Pavilion. Saint Mary's opens the West Coast Conference season Thursday night at home against Portland and then hosts defending champion Gonzaga on Saturday night.

Kickert led all scorers with 23 points and Paul Marigney added 19 for Saint Mary's, which is on its longest winning streak since a nine-gamer late in the 1996-97 season.

Mike Hall scored 12 points to lead BYU (5-9), which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Derek Dawes grabbed 10 rebounds and had nine points. The Cougars had 25 turnovers and only 21 baskets.

Saint Mary's struggled most of the first half and was 0-for-5 from 3-point range until making its final three attempts, including one by Kickert at the buzzer to give the Gaels a 31-28 halftime lead.

Saint Mary's scored the first six points of the second half with Jonathan Sanders scoring twice on layups after steals as the Gaels went on an 11-2 run.

BYU closed the gap to eight on a pair of 3-pointers by Mike Rose. Chris Miles then missed a dunk and was assessed with a technical foul for hanging on the rim.

Marigney made one of two foul shots and hit a 3-pointer when Saint Mary's was given possession after the free throws, boosting the Gaels' lead to 48-36. Saint Mary's maintained a double-digit margin the rest of the game.