MBB | Gaels March Past Cal with Three-Point Parade, 84-71

Saturday, December 1

Moraga, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

Saint Mary's College of California

4-4

California

2-4

California

Saint Mary's (CA)

MBB | Gaels March Past Cal with Three-Point Parade, 84-71

12/1/2018 9:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Saint Mary's took control on Saturday night with the 84-71 win in the first game against Cal from McKeon in 30 years.

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's recorded their third highest score on Saturday night against Cal as they took the 84-71 win. The Gaels collected 13 total threes in the match, which ties their season-high, as Malik Fitts drove the Gaels offensive.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Fitts led the Gaels on Saturday night against the Bears as he collected 19 points while shooting 7-for-10 and also recorded 7 rebounds and 3 assists, which ties his season-high that came against McNeese State. He played a total of 37 minutes, which also tied his season-high, and nabbed his first block of the season.

The two teams contrasted in scoring methods early as the Gaels hit four threes in the opening ten minutes while Cal scored 14 of their first 18 points in the paint. The Gaels went on to shoot 6-for-13 from the three-point line in the first half, outshooting Cal who went 1-for-4. Saint Mary's tied their season-high for total points in the first half with 45, tying their performance against Utah Valley on Nov. 11.

Tanner Krebs hit his first three treys of the game to mark a new season-high in three-pointers made only 11 minutes into the contest. With just under eight to play, Saint Mary's pulled away from Cal with a 13-2 run and extend their lead to 13.

Saint Mary's started the second half with a 15-point advantage over Cal and extended it to 18 after another three from Jordan Ford. The Gaels continued to shoot well from the outside as Fitts hit a three just before the five-minute mark, followed by a monster dunk from Jordan Hunter at the first timeout that improved their lead over the Bears to 24-points. The Gaels found production from their starting guards as Ford and Tommy Kuhse combined for 21 points and 13 assists. Ford set a career-high with 7 assists as did Kuhse who had 6.

With just under 12 minutes left to play, Dan Fotu hit the Gaels' tenth three-pointer of the match, giving Saint Mary's their second most total threes in a game on the season. Saint Mary's kept the threes coming and shortly after tied their season-high of 13 in a game that had been held since their season opener against McNeese State on November 7. Saint Mary's continued to produce until the final buzzer as they took the 84-71 win over Cal in their first meeting at McKeon in 30 years.

Saint Mary's and Cal began the Caldecott Classic with a quick pace as both teams scored at least ten points and traded buckets back and forth through the first five minutes of the match. Fitts went up for a flashy dunk just before the first timeout and the Gaels then went on a 9-2 run making three treys in just under three minutes. After the ten-minute mark, Saint Mary's only continued to widen the gap and held at least a four-point lead over the Bears for the rest of the half with their greatest lead being 15 points.

QUOTABLES
"I think we are playing a lot harder and trusting each other a lot more," said Ford after Saturday's win. "We have a younger team so we are just trying to build every single day. All of the leaders on our team want to make sure that we help them feel comfortable and that they feel good about themselves. We have really good freshmen this year so they can really help us. If we keep getting better everyday, I think it will get better for us. It's always good to beat Cal. They're a good team and it's a good feeling to beat a team close to home."

"I am most pleased with our guys who kept believing and kept playing," said coach Randy Bennett. "They are quality guys and we have a great group. They are sticking together and trying to get better."

NUMBERS TO KNOW

25: The largest lead Saint Mary's held over Cal.
4: Most threes from a single player (Fotu).
52: Gaels' three-point shooting percentage for the game.
30: Tonight was the first time in 30 years that the Gaels and Bears played in Moraga.

UP NEXT: BETHUNE-COOKMAN

Saint Mary's will play their next contest on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman at McKeon Pavilion. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the Ticket Office at (925) 631-GoTx.