Box Score LAS VEGAS – In a hard-fought game back-and-forth game, the Saint Mary's men's basketball team narrowly lost to No. 15 Mississippi State 61-57 on Wednesday night in the finale of the MGM Resorts Main Event at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Saint Mary's rallied in the second half, trailing by 8, the Gaels went on a 16-6 run, over a nine-minute stretch to take a 50-48 lead with 6:15 left in the game. Jordan Ford started getting hot on the run and scored nine of the team's 16 points.
 
The Bulldogs came back with six straight points over the next three minutes to lead by four with 3:05 left. A big corner 3-pointer from Elijah Thomas cut the lead to one, but Mississippi State would hang on down the stretch making free throws to extend the lead.
 
The Gaels drop to 3-2 on the young season, while Mississippi State improved to 4-1. Saint Mary's returns to McKeon Pavilion for four straight home games.
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW:

• 5: Saint Mary's matched a season-low with only five turnovers in the game.
• 39: Elijah Thomas played a career-high 39 minutes against the Bulldogs.
• 8.3%: The Gaels' defense held Mississippi State to just 1-for-12 (8.3%) from 3-point range in the second half.
• 22.5: Freshman Dan Fotu averaged 22.5 minutes per game off the bench in two games in Las Vegas. 

UP NEXT:
Saint Mary's returns to McKeon Pavilion on Saturday against Harvard. Game time is set for 6 p.m. The Gaels will play their next four games at home.
 
WINTER WHITE OUT:
The first 1,500 fans to the Harvard game on Saturday receive a free Winter White Out shirt courtesy of Shamrock Office Solutions.
 
#GaelsRise – It's time to pack McKeon Pavilion and watch the Saint Mary's basketball team rise to new heights in 2018-19…call the SMC Ticket Office today at 925-631-4689 or click the ticket link above to get your seats now…Saint Mary's Basketball…#GaelsRise