MBB | Gaels Come Out Swinging But Fall Short to No. 1 Zags

Saturday, January 16

Moraga, CA

7:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

9-5,0-3WCC

Gonzaga

14-0,5-0WCC

Gonzaga

Saint Mary's (CA)

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

MBB | Gaels Come Out Swinging But Fall Short to No. 1 Zags

1/16/2021 9:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's (9-5, 0-3 WCC) took an early lead in Saturday night's contest and showed defensive prowess throughout the game but couldn't hang on to beat top-ranked Gonzaga (14-0, 5-0 WCC) at home in a 73-59 loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Dan Fotu had one of the best games of his career as he went for 15 points and seven rebounds in a personal-best 38 minutes. Fotu was the team's most efficient shooter as he knocked down six of his 10 tries including three treys.

Logan Johnson posted 12 points with five scored at the free throw line and had a season-high four assists. Tommy Kuhse added 10 and seven dimes.

Saint Mary's defense held the Zags to their lowest scoring total of the season and just 32 points in the first half. The Gaels were up 22-12 after a Fotu triple which put the Zags in the largest hole they've faced this season. However, an ensuing 16-2 run by GU would put them back up late in the period and up seven at half.

Fotu and Quinn Clinton hit back to back threes around the 16-minute mark of the second half to cut the Gaels' deficit down to just eight. The score fluctuated around the 10-point mark over the next several minutes but a Fotu layup would make it a 56-48 game with nine to play.

Unfortunately for the Gaels, Gonzaga responded with a 13-3 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 18 with 4:01 remaining and ice the victory. Corey Kispert led the Zags with 17 points and Joel Ayayi added 16 more.

Kyle Bowen made his first career start Saturday night. Saint Mary's went with a starting lineup of Kuhse, Johnson, Fotu, Bowen, and Matthias Tass for the first time this year. The sophomore had eight rebounds and played a career-high 33 minutes before fouling out late in the game.

A 7-0 run by the Gaels put them up 12-7 at the first media timeout. SMC forced the Zags to miss six of their first eight shots.

QUOTES FROM COACH BENNETT

"I thought we played pretty well and competed hard. We're in a tough stretch and I think we'll come out as a better team."
"We're headed in the right direction. I think we have a pretty good team. We have a tough schedule right now and we have to get through this tough stretch here."
"I thought Dan Fotu and Kyle Bowen did a great job playing and competing. We're limited on bodies so I appreciate those kids laying it out there and fighting through it."

NUMBERS TO KNOW
32: Saint Mary's grabbed 32 boards and outrebounded GU by three.
33: Four Gaels played at least 33 minutes on Saturday and Fotu led all players with 38 minutes.
39: SMC shot 39 percent from beyond the arc, going 9-for-23.
7: The Gaels had seven more assists than Gonzaga, 13-6.
3: Tonight's loss marked the first time the Gaels have dropped their first three conference games since the 2005-06 season.

UP NEXT: LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
Saint Mary's will play their first true road game of the season on Thursday as they head down to Los Angeles to face the Lions. Game time is set for 5 p.m.

#GaelsRise