MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's (6-1) will host two big ticket games this week as they will face off against No. 15 Utah State on Friday at 8:30 p.m. before taking on Omaha on Sunday at 5 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 7 vs. No. 15 Utah State (7-0)
Date/Time: Friday, Nov. 29 at 8:30 p.m. PST
Location: McKeon Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Tune In, Sirius/XM/Internet 83
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS 
Gaels' all-time head to head record: 4-6 (Last meeting: 11/19/18, N, SMC 63 — USU 80)

Game No. 8 vs. Omaha (4-3)
Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5:00 p.m. PST
Location: McKeon Pavilion (Moraga, Calif.)
Radio: TuneIn, Sirius 137, XM 201, Internet 964
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
Gaels' all-time head to head record: Saint Mary's and Omaha have not met in program history. 

ABOUT UTAH STATE
No. 15 Utah State (7-0) is off to a hot start this season as they are undefeated through seven contests. In their two most recent games, the Aggies secured two victories at the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic to claim the tournament title. Utah State had one player named to the Classic All-Tournament Team while another Aggie earned the tournament MVP. 

Sam Merril is at the forefront of the Aggies' offense as he is averaging 16.6 points per game while posting 33 assists and is shooting 51 percent from beyond-the-arc. Merril is the lone Aggie that is averaging over 30 minutes per contest while five players are averaging over 20. 

To lead Utah State's defense, Justin Dean has averaged 11.4 boards per game while Diogo Brito has posted 16 steals and Kuba Karwowski has collected 12 steals. As a team, Utah State has outrebounded their opposition 304-216.

The Aggies own the 6-4 all-time record over Saint Mary's however the Gaels are 3-2 over Utah State dating back to 2009. 

ABOUT OMAHA
Omaha (4-3) is coming off their fourth win of the season as they recorded a 78-51 victory over Southern in the Cayman Islands Classic Mainland Tournament on Monday. Following the win, the Mavericks improve their home record to 3-0. Prior to taking on Saint Mary's, Omaha will continue to host the Classic and will face off against Loyola (MD.) on Tuesday.

Senior guard JT Gibson is one of four Mavericks to average over ten points per game (17.0) and has tallied seven steals while averaging 34.8 minutes of action. Ayo Akinwole has led the team from beyond-the-arc as he is shooting 60 percent from deep while posting 26 assists. Forward Matt Pile is averaging 10.2 boards per contest and has recorded 10 blocks to lead the team's defense.

The contest on Sunday will be the first meeting between Saint Mary's and Omaha in program history.

LAST TIME OUT
In the Gaels' most recent contest against Sonoma State, SMC defeated the Seawolves 107-56, which is just 14 points shy of the program record for most points in a contest. Saint Mary's shot 71 percent from the field which broke a program record for highest team field-goal percentage. The Gaels also shot a season-high 60 percent from beyond the arc as they knocked down 17 of their 28 attempts, just two made treys short of their program-high.

In the beginning of the second half, Saint Mary's made 20 consecutive field goals and the Gaels made 82 percent of their field goal attempts in the same period. Jordan Ford led the team with 22 points while recording five treys. Aaron Menzies made his first career start in the game while posting a season-high in four categories: minutes (13), points (nine), rebounds (seven), and assists (three).

GAEL QUICK FACTS

• Elijah Thomas recorded a career-high in points (16) against Sonoma State.
• The Gaels posted a season-best 22 assists in the same contest.
• Tommy Kuhse leads the team with 23 assists.
• Matthias Tass is shooting 92 percent from the charity stripe so far this season (12-13).
• As a team, SMC has tallied 52 steals compared to their opposition with 24.