MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's withstood a late push by the Waves Saturday night in McKeon Pavilion to walk away with their fourth conference win in their past five games, 72-65.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Malik Fitts continued his torrid run against WCC defenses with a 25 point showing, including a sterling 5-of-7 night from beyond the arc. Fitts entered the game averaging 18.2 points in conference games and has now scored 10-plus in the past 12 contests. The redshirt sophomore also had a team-high seven rebounds.

Pepperdine made the game interesting late as Jade' Smith hit a jumper with 28 seconds to play to make it a two-possession affir and six-point deficit. The Gaels continued to knock down free throws late however to pull out the win.

Three more Gaels reached double-figures in the game with the WCC's leading scorer, Jordan Ford, ranking second on Saint Mary's with 20. Tommy Kuhse was a perfect 4-for-4 and 3-of-3 from deep for 12 points while Tanner Krebs went for 10.

An early 8-0 run in the second half by the Waves cut Saint Mary's lead down to just four points but Tommy Kuhse killed the momentum with back-to-back threes to put the Gaels' back up by 10. Saint Mary's kept a double-figure lead for the majority of the final half.

Fitts manufactured a 7-0 home by himself late in the opening period which culminated in a 17-2 run to give Saint Mary's a 33-20 into the halftime break. Fitts had 13 of the Gaels' first half points including three treys.

Colbey Ross scored 22 points to lead Pepperdine and also had five dimes but left the contest in the closing minutes with an injury after chasing a 50-50 ball close to the sideline. Smith also had 13 to lead the Waves' offensive efforts.

Neither team found easy points in the early going as the two schools combined for only 12 points through the first eight minutes of action.

After the Waves held a close advantage early, Fitts gave the Gaels their first lead of the game at 11:55 in the first half with a 3-pointer over top of a Pepperdine defender. The redshirt junior Krebs scored eight of Saint Mary's first 16 points in the contest.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 3: Saint Mary's needed only three points off the bench to defeat Pepperdine.
• 11: The Gaels have won 11 straight contests in McKeon Pavilion.
• 34: SMC grabbed 34 rebounds to mark the 21st time this season the Gaels have outrebonded their opposition.
• 38: Both teams combined for 38 fouls on the night.
• 44: The Gaels shot 44 percent from three-point land (10-for-23).

UP NEXT: TWO GAME ROAD SWING

• Saint Mary's will be on the road for two tough road matchups against Pacific and San Diego. Thursday's contest against the Tigers tips off at 7 p.m. and can be streamed on the TheW.tv.