MORAGA, Calif. — It has become a theme of the 2021-22 Saint Mary's Men's Basketball team to turn it up in the second half. After falling into an early hole against UC Riverside on Monday night, Saint Mary's came out in the second half with a strong defensive intensity that flipped the game in their favor en route to a 67-50 victory inside of University Credit Union Pavilion. Saint Mary's improves to 7-1 while UC Riverside falls to 5-3.
 
THREES FROM…TASS?
It's not often that Matthias Tass starts to shoot three-pointers, but getting him rolling from beyond the arc was a shot in the arm that Saint Mary's needed in the first half. Down by 12 points, the Gaels started to hit some shots, and Tass was a key contributor. After blocking a shot on one end, he hit his first three-pointer of the season to make it a four-point deficit. On the next possession, Tass was left open on the left wing and buried another triple to make it 28-27 Highlanders. Saint Mary's went on an 14-0 run to close out the half, while the Highlanders went 0-7 from the floor. In the first half alone, Tass shot four three-pointers, a career-best.
 
THAT INSIDE-OUT GAME
Playing in the paint and working their way around the arc saw success on Monday night as the Gaels dominated in the paint. Saint Mary's finished with 40 points in the paint against UC Riverside, compared to just 18 for the Highlanders. This was on display even more in the second half, when 18 of the Gaels first 23 points were down low. That play helped set up the 14-0 run to close out the first half, and helped spur an 8-0 push in the middle of the second half that put the Gaels up for good.
 
CALL 'EM CLOSERS
After having a two-point lead at halftime, Saint Mary's shut down the UC Riverside offense in the second half. The Highlanders shot just 32% from the floor in the second half, making only eight baskets, while the Gaels offense hummed to the tune of 55.2% shooting. The 14-0 run at the end of the first half was impressive, but so too was the 14-2 run over the final 6:42 to close out the game. In eight games this year, Saint Mary's is +45 in point differential in the second half, and their 15-point difference on Monday was the second-largest of the year (16, Prairie View A&M).
 
TOP PERFORMERS AND NUMBERS
Behind Tass and his 18, Dan Fotu scored 14 points in the second half to finish second on the team in scoring…Tommy Kuhse was his usual self, with 11 points, six rebounds, and two assists…despite not scoring, Alex Ducas was a +19 in plus/minus, the third-best mark on the night…SMC out rebounded UCR 36-21, including a strong 7-2 advantage on the offensive glass…after struggling with turnovers in the Maui Invitational championship game, the Gaels only coughed it up nine times.  
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will look to keep the good times rolling on the road this week as the Gaels head out on a true road trip. They will begin with a matchup against Utah State in Logan, Utah on Thursday night at 6:00 pm PT (7:00 pm locally). Fans can watch the road trip opener on CBS Sports Network. Saint Mary's wraps up the road trip against Colorado State on Saturday afternoon on Stadium.
 
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