
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Ford, Strong Defense Help Gaels Run Past Lobos
12/7/2018 7:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jordan Ford scored 28 while the Gaels' defense shutdown a dangerous New Mexico offense to give Saint Mary's a win at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic.
LOS ANGELES — Saint Mary's (6-4) jumped out to an early lead Friday afternoon against New Mexico (4-3) and never looked back as they hammered the Lobos 85-60 in STAPLES Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jordan Ford continued his dominance as the WCC's leading scorer with a 28-point performance against the Lobos. The junior guard went 10-of-15 from the field and also grabbed five boards in the win. For Ford, it was his seventh game this season where he has eclipsed 20 points.
Malik Fitts also reached double-figures and had a team-high seven rebounds in his homecoming game. Fitts grew up in nearby-Rancho Cucamonga and scored 15 points on four buckets and a 6-of-8 showing from the free throw line.
Saint Mary's had one of their best defensive games of the year against the Lobos as they held UNM to shoot 34.8 percent from the field, the lowest of any SMC opponent yet. New Mexico entered Friday's action averaging over 84 points per game but were held to a season-low 60 by the Gaels' stingy defense. Saint Mary's shut down the Lobos' perimeter offense as well as New Mexico went just 4-for-26 from 3-point land.
After taking a 14-point lead into the locker room at half, the Gaels all but cemented their victory with a 13-0 run to begin the final period. Saint Mary's didn't let off the gas, shooting 12-for-14 on field goal attempts to open the half and led by 30 at the 16-minute mark.
Ford led SMC in the first half with 18 points while Fitts also reached double figures at 11. The Gaels struggled from deep in the opening 20 minutes, making only two of their 10 attempts but redeemed themselves by going 13-for-18 at the free throw line.
The Gaels sprinted out the gates by making eight of their first 11 tries from the field and owned a 15-point advantage just over five minutes into the game. Saint Mary's defense was able to stifle the Lobos' perimeter shooters early as UNM began the game 1-for-7 from deep after entering the contest shooting 42.7 percent as a team.
Vance Jackson had a team-high 12 points for the Lobos. Makuach Maluach was the only other UNM player to reach double-digits with 10.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
35: The Gaels largest lead of the night which came at 6:10 in the final half.
11: Saint Mary's rebounding advantage in the game (38-27).
5: Tommy Kuhse had a team-high five assists and now has 17 in his three starts.
60: SMC tied their season-high in shooting percentage against the Lobos.
17: The Gaels had 17 assists and are now averaging 17.7 across their last three games.
UP NEXT: CAL STATE FULLERTON
Saint Mary's returns home for an early-week game against the Titans on Monday at 7 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the Ticket Office at (925) 631-GoTx.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jordan Ford continued his dominance as the WCC's leading scorer with a 28-point performance against the Lobos. The junior guard went 10-of-15 from the field and also grabbed five boards in the win. For Ford, it was his seventh game this season where he has eclipsed 20 points.
Malik Fitts also reached double-figures and had a team-high seven rebounds in his homecoming game. Fitts grew up in nearby-Rancho Cucamonga and scored 15 points on four buckets and a 6-of-8 showing from the free throw line.
Saint Mary's had one of their best defensive games of the year against the Lobos as they held UNM to shoot 34.8 percent from the field, the lowest of any SMC opponent yet. New Mexico entered Friday's action averaging over 84 points per game but were held to a season-low 60 by the Gaels' stingy defense. Saint Mary's shut down the Lobos' perimeter offense as well as New Mexico went just 4-for-26 from 3-point land.
After taking a 14-point lead into the locker room at half, the Gaels all but cemented their victory with a 13-0 run to begin the final period. Saint Mary's didn't let off the gas, shooting 12-for-14 on field goal attempts to open the half and led by 30 at the 16-minute mark.
Ford led SMC in the first half with 18 points while Fitts also reached double figures at 11. The Gaels struggled from deep in the opening 20 minutes, making only two of their 10 attempts but redeemed themselves by going 13-for-18 at the free throw line.
The Gaels sprinted out the gates by making eight of their first 11 tries from the field and owned a 15-point advantage just over five minutes into the game. Saint Mary's defense was able to stifle the Lobos' perimeter shooters early as UNM began the game 1-for-7 from deep after entering the contest shooting 42.7 percent as a team.
Vance Jackson had a team-high 12 points for the Lobos. Makuach Maluach was the only other UNM player to reach double-digits with 10.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
35: The Gaels largest lead of the night which came at 6:10 in the final half.
11: Saint Mary's rebounding advantage in the game (38-27).
5: Tommy Kuhse had a team-high five assists and now has 17 in his three starts.
60: SMC tied their season-high in shooting percentage against the Lobos.
17: The Gaels had 17 assists and are now averaging 17.7 across their last three games.
UP NEXT: CAL STATE FULLERTON
Saint Mary's returns home for an early-week game against the Titans on Monday at 7 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the Ticket Office at (925) 631-GoTx.
Team Stats
NM
SMC
FG%
.348
.600
3FG%
.154
.333
FT%
.625
.722
RB
27
38
TO
10
15
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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