MBB | Gaels Finish Non-Conference Schedule with Win over Hornets

Wednesday, December 30

Moraga, CA

7:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

9-2,0-0WCC

Sacramento State

3-1,2-0Big Sky

Sacramento St.

Saint Mary's (CA)

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

MBB | Gaels Finish Non-Conference Schedule with Win over Hornets

12/30/2020 9:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's wrapped up non-conference play with an 18-point win over Sacramento State (3-1) on Wednesday night in UCU Pavilion and will head into West Coast Conference action next week with a 9-2 record.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Tommy Kuhse had a team-high 17 points to lead the Gaels. Despite going just 3-for-11 from the floor, the redshirt senior did his damage at the free throw line where he made 10 of his 11 tries. He also posted a team-best seven assists.

Matthias Tass also scored a season-high 16 points and grabbed five rebounds in the win. Freshman Jabe Mullins flirted with a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds while filling in for the injured Alex Ducas. Kyle Bowen led all players with 10 boards.

After scoring a season-low 49 points against San Diego State in their last game, the Gaels came out firing on all cylinders by knocking down 10 of their first 11 shots. Tass gave the Hornets fits early on as he was a perfect 6-for-6 to begin the game.

Saint Mary's took a 36-22 lead to the locker room after shooting 57 percent in the first half. SMC had nine assists on their 13 buckets and outrebounded the Hornets 20-6 in the period. Kuhse was fouled with a half-second remaining in the first half and hit both of his free throws to give the Gaels their largest lead of the half at 14.

SMC cooled off during the final half but still managed to produce points by getting fouled and going to the line. The Gaels scored 12 of their 27 second half points at the charity stripe. Saint Mary's would go on to lead by as many as 21 in the game and never led by fewer than 12 points in the final 20 minutes.

Ethan Esposito led Sac State with 16 points and Bryce Fowler added 10.

NUMBERS TO KNOW
32: Saint Mary's defense forced the Hornets to shoot just 32 percent in the game.
44: SMC outrebounded Sac State 44-16.
41: A total of 41 fouls were called between the two teams leading to 39 free throws.
22: Saint Mary's trailed for only 22 seconds in the contest after the Hornets scored the first bucket of the game.

UP NEXT: SAN DIEGO
As announced earlier today, Saint Mary's upcoming contest against Pepperdine was cancelled due to a positive coronavirus test within the Waves' program. The contest will be rescheduled for a future date still to be determined. SMC will now play their next game next Thursday on the road at San Diego at 4 p.m.

#GaelsRise