Wednesday, November 30
Moraga, CA
7:00 pm
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
New Mexico
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | New Mexico, Top-Ranked Houston Highlight Stout Week for SMC
11/29/2022 3:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — After their first trip away from home during the 2022-23 season, Saint Mary's Men's Basketball returns home for a Wednesday night affair against New Mexico in the first part of their week. The Gaels will then head out to Fort Worth for a neutral site game against the newly-minted top-ranked team in the country, the Houston Cougars. That matchup will be televised on ESPN2 on Saturday night as part of The Battleground 2k22, hosted inside Dickies Arena.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels (6-1) vs. New Mexico Lobos (6-0)
Wednesday, November 30 at 7:00 pm
University Credit Union Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
Stream: WCC Network (Alex Jensen, Dave Lewis)
Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Get Tickets
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. No. 1 Houston Cougars (6-0)
Saturday, December 3 at 6:30 pm PT
Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, Texas
Television: ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin)
Live Audio: The Varsity Network (Alex Jensen)
Watch | Listen | Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's came just minutes away from winning the 2022 Paycom Wooden Legacy. They were 10-point victors over Vanderbilt in the opening round of the tournament, before drawing Washington in the championship game. Saint Mary's held a 58-53 lead heading into the final 90 seconds of the game before Washington tied it and sent it into overtime. The Huskies pulled ahead during the five-minute bonus frame and eventually won 68-64. Following the tournament, Mitchell Saxen was named to the All-Tournament team.
STEADY SAXEN
On the heels of a strong performance during the 2022 Paycom Wooden Legacy, Mitchell Saxen has been named this week's Bay Alarm Student-Athlete of the Week.
Saxen set a career-best with a 19-point performance in game one of the 2022 Paycom Wooden Legacy against Vanderbilt, and then tied that mark the very next night in the championship game against Washington. Saxen made 18 shots across both games, which saw him play an average of 37 minutes per game, while adding 6.5 rebounds per game and one assist per game. Saxen is leading the Gaels in both points and rebounds through the first three weeks of the season, his first as a starter.
This is the first weekly win of the season for the men's basketball team in this award, after picking up one award during their 2022 Foreign Tour.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO
New Mexico is freshly into the AP Poll as a team receiving votes, on the strength of a perfect 6-0 start to the season. They just hosted the Lobo Classic and swept through that with three wins over Jacksonville State, North Dakota State, and Northern Colorado. Their offense has been efficient through the first six games, shooting at a 48.2% clip while averaging over 84 points per game. They have a three-headed scoring monster, with Morris Udeze (19.5 ppg), Jaelen House (17.0 ppg), and Jamal Mashburn Jr. (17.0 ppg) as the only three with at least 10 points per game. While their metrics are good, they have yet to play a team ranked higher than 145 according to KenPom (Gaels are No. 25).
ABOUT HOUSTON
For the first time in 39 years, the Houston Cougars are the top-ranked team in the NCAA. They are off to a 6-0 start and they have the talent to make a serious run at an NCAA Championship. The Cougars have Jarace Walker, who was named to the Karl Malone Award watch list, and Marcus Sasser, who is on multiple watch lists including the NABC Player of the Year watch list. Those two lead the offense, but the Cougars are holding opponents to just 47.3 points per game, and a paltry 29.1% shooting percentage from the floor. They play at a slow pace similar to the Gaels, meaning the first team to 60 is most likely to win the game. This is the first matchup against the top-ranked team in the country outside of conference play for SMC since December 2, 2000 (Arizona).
NCAA TOURNAMENT TROPHY, STUDENT GIVEAWAYS
Wednesday will be jam-packed inside University Credit Union Pavilion, with the NCAA Tournament trophy in attendance. Fans will be able to take pictures with the official championship trophy that 68 teams will be vying for in Houston, the site of this year's NCAA Final Four. In addition, every student in attendance will receive a raffle ticket to be entered into a drawing to win a variety of prizes, including a 50" TCL 4K smart TV, Beats by Dr. Dre, a $100 Canyon Club gift card, and more.
PREGAME PARTIES
There's no better place to gear up for a game than on our campus!
Before every home game, enjoy a Pregame Party on the newly-renovated terrace and turf lawn in front of UCU Pavilion. Festivities start 2 hours before tip-off. Fans of all ages will enjoy food and drink sales, including beer and wine. Play yard games and relax in the red and blue adirondack lawn chairs.
At game time, you're just steps away from the best college hoops environment in California.
Also, The Pub is back! The 1928 Pub is open on gamedays starting two hours before tip-off and is located at Cassin Student Union, next to Dryden Hall. For more information, click HERE.
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM
All Saint Mary's Men's Basketball gameday programs will be virtual during the 2022-23 season, and the second edition can be found HERE. In it, fans will find a recap of the season-opening home stand and information about upcoming opponents and tournaments.
2022-23 YEARBOOK
The 2022-23 Saint Mary's Basketball Yearbook is available HERE. This contains all of your information on both Saint Mary's basketball programs, coach and player profiles, as well as Saint Mary's, administration, and fan information.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels (6-1) vs. New Mexico Lobos (6-0)
Wednesday, November 30 at 7:00 pm
University Credit Union Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
Stream: WCC Network (Alex Jensen, Dave Lewis)
Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Get Tickets
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. No. 1 Houston Cougars (6-0)
Saturday, December 3 at 6:30 pm PT
Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, Texas
Television: ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin)
Live Audio: The Varsity Network (Alex Jensen)
Watch | Listen | Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's came just minutes away from winning the 2022 Paycom Wooden Legacy. They were 10-point victors over Vanderbilt in the opening round of the tournament, before drawing Washington in the championship game. Saint Mary's held a 58-53 lead heading into the final 90 seconds of the game before Washington tied it and sent it into overtime. The Huskies pulled ahead during the five-minute bonus frame and eventually won 68-64. Following the tournament, Mitchell Saxen was named to the All-Tournament team.
STEADY SAXEN
On the heels of a strong performance during the 2022 Paycom Wooden Legacy, Mitchell Saxen has been named this week's Bay Alarm Student-Athlete of the Week.
Saxen set a career-best with a 19-point performance in game one of the 2022 Paycom Wooden Legacy against Vanderbilt, and then tied that mark the very next night in the championship game against Washington. Saxen made 18 shots across both games, which saw him play an average of 37 minutes per game, while adding 6.5 rebounds per game and one assist per game. Saxen is leading the Gaels in both points and rebounds through the first three weeks of the season, his first as a starter.
This is the first weekly win of the season for the men's basketball team in this award, after picking up one award during their 2022 Foreign Tour.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO
New Mexico is freshly into the AP Poll as a team receiving votes, on the strength of a perfect 6-0 start to the season. They just hosted the Lobo Classic and swept through that with three wins over Jacksonville State, North Dakota State, and Northern Colorado. Their offense has been efficient through the first six games, shooting at a 48.2% clip while averaging over 84 points per game. They have a three-headed scoring monster, with Morris Udeze (19.5 ppg), Jaelen House (17.0 ppg), and Jamal Mashburn Jr. (17.0 ppg) as the only three with at least 10 points per game. While their metrics are good, they have yet to play a team ranked higher than 145 according to KenPom (Gaels are No. 25).
ABOUT HOUSTON
For the first time in 39 years, the Houston Cougars are the top-ranked team in the NCAA. They are off to a 6-0 start and they have the talent to make a serious run at an NCAA Championship. The Cougars have Jarace Walker, who was named to the Karl Malone Award watch list, and Marcus Sasser, who is on multiple watch lists including the NABC Player of the Year watch list. Those two lead the offense, but the Cougars are holding opponents to just 47.3 points per game, and a paltry 29.1% shooting percentage from the floor. They play at a slow pace similar to the Gaels, meaning the first team to 60 is most likely to win the game. This is the first matchup against the top-ranked team in the country outside of conference play for SMC since December 2, 2000 (Arizona).
NCAA TOURNAMENT TROPHY, STUDENT GIVEAWAYS
Wednesday will be jam-packed inside University Credit Union Pavilion, with the NCAA Tournament trophy in attendance. Fans will be able to take pictures with the official championship trophy that 68 teams will be vying for in Houston, the site of this year's NCAA Final Four. In addition, every student in attendance will receive a raffle ticket to be entered into a drawing to win a variety of prizes, including a 50" TCL 4K smart TV, Beats by Dr. Dre, a $100 Canyon Club gift card, and more.
PREGAME PARTIES
There's no better place to gear up for a game than on our campus!
Before every home game, enjoy a Pregame Party on the newly-renovated terrace and turf lawn in front of UCU Pavilion. Festivities start 2 hours before tip-off. Fans of all ages will enjoy food and drink sales, including beer and wine. Play yard games and relax in the red and blue adirondack lawn chairs.
At game time, you're just steps away from the best college hoops environment in California.
Also, The Pub is back! The 1928 Pub is open on gamedays starting two hours before tip-off and is located at Cassin Student Union, next to Dryden Hall. For more information, click HERE.
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM
All Saint Mary's Men's Basketball gameday programs will be virtual during the 2022-23 season, and the second edition can be found HERE. In it, fans will find a recap of the season-opening home stand and information about upcoming opponents and tournaments.
2022-23 YEARBOOK
The 2022-23 Saint Mary's Basketball Yearbook is available HERE. This contains all of your information on both Saint Mary's basketball programs, coach and player profiles, as well as Saint Mary's, administration, and fan information.
#GaelsRise
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