MORAGA, Calif. — A return home usually means good things for Saint Mary's Men's Basketball, as the Gaels entered Wednesday night's game against New Mexico with a 23-game winning streak at home. The longest home winning streak in program history was tested on against the Lobos, and ultimately upended in a 69-65 defeat inside University Credit Union Pavilion. SMC drops to 6-2 while the Lobos remain unbeaten at 7-0.
 
ALL ABOUT THAT DEFENSE
The game began as most Saint Mary's games tend to start, with the Gaels limiting the offensive efficiency of the opposition. After over 10 minutes of play, New Mexico had just four points and was a mere 1-10 from the floor, and the Gaels were leading 15-4. While things certainly changed in the final 10 minutes of the first half, SMC held New Mexico to just 38.5% from the floor through 20 minutes. The problem was that the Saint Mary's offense wasn't much better, shooting at 30.4% and going just 1-9 from distance. There were also a combined 20 turnovers in the first half, with the Gaels defense forcing 11 of them.
 
OPENING THE GAME UP
There was much more offense to be had in the second half by both teams. Saint Mary's shot 58.3% from the field in the second stanza, and also went 5-9 from three-point range. Again, there was a problem: New Mexico shot even better, going 15-25 (60%) in the second half, and making 3-4 from beyond the arc. Every time Saint Mary's pulled with a few points, the Lobos answered right back and made a shot on the other end of the floor. Even with Saint Mary's finishing the game making nine of their last 11 shots, they could not pull closer than three points in the final three minutes.
 
DUCAS KEEPS 'EM IN IT
If it weren't for the performance of Alex Ducas in the second half, New Mexico would have run away with the game. After scoring just five points in the first half, Ducas lit up the scoreboard with 20 second-half points, going 6-7 from the floor and 6-6 from the free throw line. It seemed like every time he had the ball, something good was happening for the Gaels. When the game ended, Ducas had 25 points, tying a career-best that he has now set on three occasions. He hit a three-pointer with 5:47 to go that made it a one-point game at 56-55, but Saint Mary's never got that close again.
 
AMONG OTHER NUMBERS
The home winning streak for Saint Mary's, which was the longest in SMC history, ends at 23 games (first loss since No. 1 Gonzaga on January 16, 2021)…for the second game in a row, the Gaels lost despite forcing more turnovers than the opposition (17 vs. 15)…Mitchell Saxen (11) and Aidan Mahaney (11) were the only other Gaels to reach double-digits in points…Wednesday marked the third-straight game where the Gaels have had a lower shooting percentage than their opponent, allowing New Mexico to shoot 49% from the field…SMC was just 17-27 from the free throw line, while New Mexico was 14-16.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels head out for their longest trip in terms of distance away from home when they head to Fort Worth this weekend for the Battleground 2k22. Their opponent on Saturday night is the best team in the country, the top-ranked Houston Cougars, fresh off a blowout win against Norfolk State. Tip-off is set for 6:30 pm PT on ESPN2, with Kevin Brown and Jon Crispin on the call. Saint Mary's owns two program wins over a top-ranked team, both against Gonzaga, and one of those coming last season.