MBB | Gaels Begin Season Versus McNeese State, Utah Valley

Saint Mary's will tip off their 2018-19 campaign with two home games this week.

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's officially begins their season this Wednesday as the Gaels host the McNeese State Cowboys in McKeon Pavilion before welcoming Utah Valley on Sunday to close out the week.

GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 1 vs. McNeese State Cowboys (0-0)
Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. PST
Location: McKeon Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
Stream: http://www.wccsports.com/watch/?id=150419
Live stats: https://smcgaels.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Tickets: https://smcgaels.com/sports/2018/5/29/tickets-mens-basketball-tickets-html.aspx
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 1-0 (Last meeting: 12/6/96, N, SMC 92 - MNSU 64)

Game No. 2 vs Utah Valley Wolverines (0-0)
Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. PST
Location McKeon Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
Stream: http://www.wccsports.com/watch/?id=150435
Live stats: https://smcgaels.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Tickets: https://smcgaels.com/sports/2018/5/29/tickets-mens-basketball-tickets-html.aspx
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 1-0 (Last meeting: 12/28/15, H, SMC 65 - UVU 50)

ABOUT THE GAELS
Saint Mary's will hit the court on Wednesday with a new-look lineup after losing three starters and five total players from last season. The Gaels' returning starters are guards Jordan Ford and Tanner Krebs, who combined to start 65 contests last season. Ford averaged 11.1 points and led the team with 31 steals while Krebs chipped in 7.7 points per game and was second in rebounds at 5.2.

Saint Mary's was picked to finish second in the WCC Coaches' Preseason Poll while Ford was named to the All-WCC Preseason Team.

New to the team are four freshmen and one redshirt senior, Aaron Menzies, who played the last three seasons at Seattle. Menzies was named to the WAC All-Defensive Team as a redshirt junior and scored over 11 points per contest for the Redhawks. The team's incoming freshmen are Quinn Clinton, Matthias Tass, Alex Mudronja, and Dan Fotu, all of whom are from overseas. Clinton and Fotu hail from New Zealand, Mudronja comes from Australia, and Tass is originally from Estonia.

Last season, the Gaels accomplished a 30-win season for the first time in program history and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT before falling in overtime to Utah. Saint Mary's accomplished their AP poll highest ranking ever as they topped out at No. 11 during February and won 19 straight games during one stretch of the year.

Saint Mary's will look to replace the production of last season's "Big Three" combination of seniors Jock Landale, Emmett Naar, and Calvin Hermanson. Landale was named WCC Player of the Year after averaging over 21 points per game and became the first Gael ever selected as an All-American. Naar became the school's all-time leader in assists last year as well, passing Matthew Dellavedova and finishing his career with 816 career dimes. Hermanson exits the program second all-time in three pointers made, trailing only Dellavedova, and ranks 15th all-time in career points.

ABOUT MCNEESE STATE
The Cowboys come into McKeon Pavilion under first year head coach Heath Schroyer. Schroyer is no stranger to the Gaels as he was the associate head coach for BYU in 2017-18 and also spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the Cougars from 1997-2001.

Along with their new head coach, McNeese State will also have several new faces on their roster as the team returns only five players from last season's 11-17 club. The two returning starters for the Cowboys are Jarren Greenwood and James Harvey who both averaged over 10 points last season. Greenwood was second on the team with 13.0 points per contest and led the team with 3.1 assists per game.

McNeese State was picked to finish seventh in the Southland Conference in their preseason coaches' poll behind teams such as Stephen F. Austin (picked first) and Southeastern Louisiana (second). Saint Mary's defeated Southeastern Louisiana by 44 points in the opening round of the NIT last season in Moraga.

ABOUT UTAH VALLEY
The Wolverines come to Moraga after tipping off their season against Div. II Westminster and another WCC-opponent, BYU. Utah Valley compiled a 23-11 record last year and went 10-4 in WAC play. The team was knocked out in the second round of their conference tournament to Grand Canyon and played in the College Basketball Invitational, ultimately falling to the tournament's runner-up, San Francisco, in the second round.

UVU returns two starters in 2018-19, Conner and Jake Toolson. Conner ranked third on the team in points last season, averaging 12.1 from the guard position and shooting 39.5 percent from deep while Jake scored 10.9 points per game and was second in assists with 97. Conner was chosen as First Team All-WAC in the preseason coaches' poll.

Utah Valley was picked to finish fourth in the conference behind New Mexico State, Grand Canyon, and Seattle according to the preseason coaches' poll. The Gaels will play New Mexico State immediately following the game against Utah Valley on Nov. 14 in Las Cruces, N.M.

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