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SMC California Athletics

Saint Mary's College Athletics Gaels
Alex Ducas
Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
79
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 19-5,6-3 WCC
81
Winner BYU BYU 17-7,6-3 WCC
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC
19-5,6-3 WCC
79
Final
81
BYU BYU
17-7,6-3 WCC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 40 39 79
BYU BYU 43 38 81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

MBB | Gaels Fall in Final Seconds to BYU

PROVO, Utah — Saint Mary's and BYU went back and forth in an offensive slugfest inside Marriott Center but the Cougars would prevail on a last second three to come out on top, 81-79.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In a game that featured 10 lead changes and 13 ties, the final minutes were almost entirely within one possession with neither team leading by more than four. With 1:31 left in a one-point game, Alex Ducas delivered a huge shot for the Gaels, knocking down a corner three to put Saint Mary's up four but three free throws on the opposite end would cut their lead down to one. 

The play of the game came in the final 10 seconds as senior TJ Haws pulled up from outside the arc and hit his third trey of the game to put BYU up two with 8.5 remaining. 

After a timeout, Jordan Ford would get a clean look on a floater for the tie but his shot bounced out and Kyle Bowen's ensuing try was blocked to close out the game. 

Malik Fitts led Saint Mary's with a game-high 29 points, one off his career-high, and was 11-for-16 from the field and 4-of-6 from deep. He grabbed eight boards but picked up four fouls in a three minute span to leave the game with 4:36 remaining. 

Fitts began the final half by scoring SMC's first seven points and Dan Fotu added a layup to tie up the game once again at 49-49 at the 16-under media timeout. That was part of an 11-2 run to put Saint Mary's up by four, their largest lead in 14 minutes. Fitts had 15 of the Gaels' first 17 points in the second half. 

Jordan Ford put up 18 points while going 4-for-8 from deep while Alex Ducas chipped in 11 and Dan Fotu added 10. 

Saint Mary's offense had one of their top performances of the season shooting 54 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three. Unfortunately for the Gaels, BYU was able to match that production at 58 and 46 percent, respectively. 

The Gaels were without Tanner Krebs in the contest who is under evaluation after suffering a lower-body injury on Thursday against Portland. Tommy Kuhse started in his place and played 34 minutes. 

The Cougars led 43-40 at halftime on 60 percent shooting while knocking down seven of their 12 threes. Saint Mary's was nearly as effective in the period as they shot 56 percent and made half of their 10 triples. Of the Gaels' 40 points, 27 came from Ford and Fitts and they combined to go 10-for-16 in the opening 20. 

BYU opened the game with a quick 7-0 run within the first two minutes of action but Saint Mary's would immediately reply with a 9-0 run of their own. Both teams started the game by making nine of their first 12 shots. Ford was responsible for five of those makes including three treys. 

Back-to-back splashes by Elijah Thomas and Ford put Saint Mary's up 67-59 with eight and a half to play and silenced a packed, rowdy BYU student section. The Cougars later tied the game with just over six to play after a 7-0 run fueled by Haws. 

Haws finished the game with 23 points and five assists. Yoeli Childs added 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting.

NUMBERS TO KNOW
53: The Gaels shot above 53 percent for the third straight game. 
10: Saint Mary's had 10 assists in the game, marking only the second time they've lost while reaching double figure dimes. 
6: BYU ended the game on a 6-0 run. 
32: Ducas played a career-high 32 minutes. 
64: Saint Mary's was only 9-for-14 from the charity stripe, 64 percent. 

UP NEXT: SAN DIEGO
Saint Mary's will face the Toreros for the first time this season on the road on Thursday. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPNU. 

 
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