MBB | Gaels Look To Bounce Back This Week Beginning Wednesday

Saint Mary's had their four-game win streak snapped on Saturday but will look to get back to their winning ways against Bucknell and Western Kentucky.

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's (7-5) will look to begin a new win streak this week as they host Bucknell before traveling to Western Kentucky to wrap up the week.

GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 13 vs. Bucknell (4-4)
Date/Time: Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7:00 p.m. PST
Location: McKeon Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
TV: https://wccsports.com/watch/?id=154676
Radio: https://tunein.com/radio/Saint-Marys-IMG-Sports-Network-s280256/
Live stats: https://smcgaels.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 1-0 (Last meeting: 11/25/95, H, SMC 84 - BUCK 66)

Game No. 14 vs. Western Kentucky (5-5)
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 22 at 12:00 p.m. PST
Location: E.A. Diddle Arena (Bowling Green, Ky.)
TV: Facebook Live
Radio: https://tunein.com/radio/Saint-Marys-IMG-Sports-Network-s280256/
Live stats: http://wkusports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 1-0 (Last meeting: 12/14/16, H, SMC 73 - WKU 51)

ABOUT BUCKNELL
The Bucknell Bison carry a 4-4 record into Moraga on Wednesday and are 3-1 on the road this season. Bucknell is coming off a nail biter loss at No. 15 Ohio State where they fell by just two points. Last season, the Bison went 16-2 in conference play and won the Patriot League Championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The team was defeated by Michigan State in a close four-point loss in the Round of 64.

The Bison are averaging 74.3 points per game this season on 45.1 percent shooting from the field. Bucknell averages over 26 3-point attempts each contest and has connected on 36.7 percent of their tries.

Leading the offense are two seniors, guard Kimbal Mackenzie and forward Nate Sestina, who are both averaging 15.8 points this season. Mackenzie leads the team in shot attempts and has 36 more than any of his teammates while Sestina is Bucknell's leading rebounder at 8.0 per game. Sophomore guard Jimmy Sotos is averaging over five dimes this year and has also made half of his 3-pointers (12-of-24).

Bison senior Matt O'Reilly will be experiencing a homecoming Wednesday night as well. The Moraga native attended Campolindo High School up until his senior season before transferring to Prolific Prep and has appeared in two games this year for Bucknell.

ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY
The Gaels will make their final road trip of the non-conference schedule at the end of the week as they play the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green on Saturday. WKU is 5-5 this year but have dropped two of their past three contests. The Hilltoppers fell at home to Troy in their most recent game, 87-81.

Taveion Hollingsworth and Jared Savage are WKU's top two scorers this season, averaging 16.5 and 15.6 points, respectively. The two guards have taken over 72 percent of the team's total 3-point attempts and are both shooting above 37 percent from deep.

Western Kentucky's 6-11 center Charles Bassey is nearly averaging a double-double this year with 14.9 points and 9.5 boards. The big man has been effective around the net, making 61 percent of his shots this season.

The Gaels and Hilltoppers have only met once two years ago in Moraga when Saint Mary's was ranked 20th in the nation. The Gaels breezed to a 22-point win as Jock Landale scored 15 and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the team.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#34 Jock Landale: C; 6' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#34 Jock Landale
: 6' 11"; Senior
: C

Players Mentioned

#34 Jock Landale

Players Mentioned

#34 Jock Landale