MBB | Krebs, Fotu Perfect in Win over Lions

Saturday, January 25

Los Angeles, CA

6:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

18-4,5-2WCC

Loyola Marymount

8-13,2-5WCC

Saint Mary's (CA)

Loyola Marymount

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

MBB | Krebs, Fotu Perfect in Win over Lions

1/25/2020 8:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

LOS ANGELES — Saint Mary's (18-4, 5-2 WCC) secured their third straight conference win and fourth in their last five games on Saturday night as a big first half propelled them past Loyola Marymount (8-13, 2-5 WCC).

HOW IT HAPPENED
Tanner Krebs was perfect offensively on the night as he led the team with 19 points and made all seven of his field goals. The redshirt senior was 3-for-3 on threes, had a team-high six boards, and had 10 of the team's first 14 points to begin the game.

Last week in Pepperdine, Krebs also made his first seven shots of the night in a 17-point showing.

Dan Fotu also didn't miss from the field and finished with 13 points on 4-for-4 shooting. Jordan Ford added 12 and Malik Fitts chipped in 11.

Tommy Kuhse played a crucial role in the offense as he picked up six assists after recording seven earlier this week against San Francisco. Saint Mary's totaled 13 assists against the Lions which was their second most in a conference game this year.

Saint Mary's was up big at halftime, 43-21, on the back of 59 percent shooting in the period. Krebs had 13 to lead the team while Ford also managed to get double-figures with 10. The Gaels chucked up 17 threes in the first half and splashed down on eight of them.

Late in the half, SMC had stretch of 11 field goal attempts with 10 of those coming from beyond the arc.

Overall, Saint Mary's shot 57 percent in the game and finished the game at 40 percent from deep. The Gaels continue to lead the nation in 3-point percentage at over 42 percent.

SMC led by as many as 24 after Fotu made a layup coming out of halftime but LMU slowly chiseled that lead down to seven with four minutes remaining in the game. Points at the free throw line would help Saint Mary's pull back ahead of LMU and maintain their double digit lead.

Eli Scott had 18 points to lead the Lions and had a team-high three assists. Jordan Bell added 14 on 6-of-10 shooting.

NUMBERS TO KNOW
9: All nine Gaels who entered the game got on the scoreboard.
39: Saint Mary's led for almost 39 minutes (38:57) in the match and trailed for just 37 seconds.
18: SMC scored 18 points off of 12 Lion turnovers.
30: The Gaels' defense held LMU to shoot just 30 percent from three.

UP NEXT: PORTLAND
Saint Mary's returns to Moraga for their only matchup with the Pilots this season. Students can come to the 7 p.m. game to secure their ticket for the Gonzaga home game on Feb. 8.