March 18, 2018

SMC Game Notes

Game 35: 2nd Round NIT vs Washington (21-12, 10-8 WCC), Monday, March 19 at 8:00 p.m. PT
Presented by Diablo Valley Insurance
All-time Series: 0-6
TV: ESPNU
Talents: Roxy Bernstein (PxP), Corey Williams (Color)
Stream: WatchESPN
Live Stream |

Quick Bites

• The Gaels are in their sixth NIT in program history. SMC has advanced to the NIT in 2008-09, 2010-11, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.
• Saint Mary's is 6-5 all-time in the National Invitation Tournament. Saint Mary's is now 6-2 all-time at home in NIT games.
• The Gaels have now reached the postseason in 11 straight seasons under head coach Randy Bennett.
• Saint Mary's has the nation's 6th best win percentage (85.3). The Gaels have had 29 wins in each of the last three seasons (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18).
• With a win on Monday night, it will mark the first time in program history SMC will have 30 wins in a season.
• 2017-18 marked the first season in program history in which two players were named to the NABC First Team. Seniors Jock Landale and Emmett Naar were named to the First Team.
• Since 1959, the Gaels are 11-14 (NCAA, NIT) and 10-11 under Head Coach Randy Bennett in the postseason.

Records Set in 1st Round

• In the win over Southeastern Louisiana, SMC set several program postseason records:
• 44 points marked Largest Margin of victory. (13 vs MTSU, 2013 NCAA)
• Most points in a postseason game (89). Previous was 85 versus VCU (2017 NCAA Round of 64)
• 35 FGM. Previous high was 31 versus Davidson (2009 NIT)
• 59.3 FG%. Previous high was 55.6% versus VCU (2017 NCAA Round of 64)
• 13 3-point FGM. Previous high was 9 versus Georgia in 2016 NIT

Jock's Historic Season Continues
One of the most decorated seasons in program history, Landale now has the most points and made field-goals (287)in a single season in Gaels history.

The big man has 731 points, passing Omar Samhan's 724 points on 282 made field-goals in 2009-10.

Big Apple This Year?
SMC has yet to make the semifinals of the NIT and have advanced to the quarterfinals twice:

2009: Loss at San Diego State (70-66, QF)
2011: Loss vs Kent State (71-70, 1st RD)
2014: Loss at Minnesota (63-55, 2nd RD)
2015: Loss vs Vanderbilt (75-64, 1st RD)
2016: Loss vs Valparaiso (60-44, QF)

Saint Mary's is 6-2 all time at home in NIT action and 0-3 on the road.

About the Huskies
Washington has its first 20-win season since 2011-12 after defeating Oregon State last week. UW went 9-22 last season.

First year head coach Hopkins was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year becoming just the sixth first year Pac-12 coach to earn the coach of the year honors and the first since 2006-07.

UW is in its ninth NIT in program history and the first since 2016. The Huskies are 8-8 overall in NIT games.

Junior Matisse Thybulle was named the 2018 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year becoming the first UW player to earn the award. Freshman Jaylen Nowell recorded his 10th 20-plus scoring effort against Boise State with a team-high 25 points. He has reached at least 10 points in 29 of his 33 games as a freshman.

UW has a 3-1 record over top 25 teams this season, defeating No. 2 Kansas on the road, No. 25 Arizona State and No. 9 Arizona with it's lone loss coming against No. 12 Gonzaga. The last time Washington had three wins over top 25 teams was the 2014-15 season.