MORAGA, Calif. — Saturday's contest between the Gaels and Rams was a defensive battle with Saint Mary's coming out on top in the end, 53-33. Saint Mary's improved to 8-1 with the win and earned their eighth straight victory. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Tommy Kuhse had a team-high 14 points and also dished out six assists. Dan Fotu posted 10 points and hit two three's while grabbing seven rebounds. Mitchell Saxen led the team with eight boards and chipped in four points. 

The defense held CSU to shoot only 25 percent in the game and 14 percent from beyond the arc. The Gaels had a season-high 13 steals and also blocked four shots. SMC also dominated on the boards, 41-30.

Saturday's win marked the first time since Feb. 21, 2019 against Pacific that the Gaels had allowed fewer than 40 points in a contest. Saint Mary's gave up just 32 points on the road in Stockton on that date. 

The Gels opened the game on a 14-0 run with seven of the first nine coming courtesy of Alex Ducas. Colorado State didn't score until six minutes had passed to begin the contest as SMC's defense forced a number of tough shots. 

After a hot start, the scoring in the game came to a halt with both teams going 1-for-10 over a five minute stretch late in the period.

A 7-0 run late with two minutes to go in the first half gave the Gaels a 17-point lead, their largest of the contest at that point. SMC would head into the locker room with a 33-17 at halftime with Kuhse posting a team-best 10 points. 

The second half was largely defensive as well. SMC and CSU had coinciding scoring droughts of more than five and a half minutes. A 5-0 run capped by a Jabe Mullins jumper put SMC up by 24 for their largest advantage on the night. 

No Rams player scored more than 10 points in the game. Dischon Thomas led the team with eight points. 

NUMBERS TO KNOW
28: SMC outscored CSU 28-14 in the paint. 
19: The Gaels scored 19 points off of 16 CSU turnovers. 
39: Saint Mary's led for more than 39 minutes and never trailed. 
10: The Gaels grabbed 10 offensive boards in the win. 
4: CSU was limited to only four assists in the contest. 

UP NEXT: SAN DIEGO STATE
Saint Mary's hits the road and travels south to take on No. 18 San Diego State on the campus of Cal Poly on Tuesday. Tipoff for the neutral site contest is 6 p.m. with the game being broadcasted on CBS Sports Network.