MORAGA, Calif. — After a successful 3-0 start to the season, Saint Mary's Men's Basketball has its first weekly award winner from the West Coast Conference. On the strength of a massive first-game performance, Aidan Mahaney was named the WCC's Freshman of the Week award. He shares the spotlight with Brandin Podziemski of Santa Clara (Player of the Week) as weekly award winners from the conference office.
 
Monday marked the collegiate debut of Aidan Mahaney, the local product from Lafayette who graduated from Campolindo High School just down the road. He was dazzling in his first game, playing 26 minutes off the bench and leading all players with 25 points on 8-19 shooting, including 5-12 from the beyond the arc. His 25 points scored in his collegiate debut are the most points scored by a Gael in his collegiate debut in the Randy Bennett era, eclipsing Patty Mills (17) and Matthew Dellavedova (19). He was important in both halves, scoring 13 in the first and making some big free throws in the second half en route to 12 points.
 
In his first week, Mahaney scored 37 points (12.3 ppg), while shooting 9-18 from beyond the arc. He was a bit more quiet in the subsequent games following his debut, but his prolific three-point shooting has been on display, after knocking down 3-4 on Sunday night in the win over North Texas. Mahaney also compiled seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
 
Since the award's creation, Mahaney is the second Gael to take home the award, joining Leemet Böckler (December 7, 2020).
 
The home stand continues for Saint Mary's next week with two more games, beginning on Wednesday night at 5:30 pm against Southern University. Both games next week will be featuring a 5:30 pm tip-off, including the Saturday evening contest against Hofstra. Tickets are still available for both games at SMCGaels.com/tickets.