MORAGA, Calif. — The wait is almost over, as the Saint Mary's Gaels, the 23rd ranked team in the country heading into the 2023-24 season, will open their season Monday evening, hosting the Stanislaus State Warriors. Riding back-to-back trips to the National Tournament, Saint Mary's looks to make it three-in-a-row this season, and it will all begin with this Monday night tilt against the Warriors.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Stanislaus State Warriors
Monday, November 6 at 7:00 PM
UCU Pavilion - Moraga, Calif.
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A SNEAK PEAK
Prior to their season opener, the Gaels got the chance to take part in a charity exhibition matchup with the University of Hawai'i, with proceeds from the game going to aid those affected by the recent Maui Wildfires. Saint Mary's looked sharp in the tune-up, defeating the Rainbow Warriors 92-58. The backcourt duo of Aidan Mahaney and Augustas Marciulionis stole the show in Honolulu, as the duo combined for 47 points on 16-26 (61.5%) shooting from the field and 5-9 (55.6%) shooting from three. The Gaels flexed their physicality on both ends of the floor, scoring 42 points in the paint, and out-rebounding Hawai'i 31-20, led by Luke Barrett, who reeled in eight boards in just 16 minutes of play off the bench. Saint Mary's will hope that this exhibition contest is a true preview of how their season will go, as the team looked primed and ready for another run at a WCC Title.
MEET THE NEW GUYS
There are three new Gaels to get to know this season, as Coach Bennett brought in a talented class of three freshmen to his 2023-24 squad. Point guard Jordan Ross hails from Pleasant Grove, Utah, but spent last season playing for one of the top prep basketball teams in the country, Arizona Compass Prep. While at Compass, Ross led his team in assists, helping lead them to the Geico High School National Championship Finals. Standing at 7-1, center Andrew McKeever is a local product out of Livermore and Granada High School, the same alma mater as fellow Gael Kevin Gad. The big man averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists per contest last season, en route to the CIF Division I State Championship Game. The Aussie pipeline continues to be alive and well in Moraga, as Jensen Bradtke of the Australia Centre for Excellence rounds out the entering class of 2023-24. Bradtke averaged 10 points and seven boards per game at the Centre for Excellence, while averaging 16 points and six rebounds per contest while representing Team Victoria in the U20 Australian Championships. Jensen also boasts a terrific basketball pedigree, as his father, Mark, is a four-time Olympian and member of the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
Playing out of the California Collegiate Athletic Association of the NCAA Division II, Stanislaus State hopes to improve on a 10-18 campaign from a season ago. Entering his seventh season at the helm, Head Coach Paul Trevor hopes that this season will be one of his best in Turlock, as his team looks to eclipse the sixth place mark in the CCAA, which has been the highest they have finished under Trevor. The team should be led by junior guard Tony Singleton, one of ten returners from last season's squad. An All-CCAA selectee in 2022, Singleton started the first five contests last season before his season ended prematurely due to injury. A knockdown three point shooter, Singleton has averaged 13 points per game as a Warrior, and is a career 43% shooter from beyond the arc. He should be complemented by sophomore guard Jeremiah Jones, who occupied the sixth man role last season at Stan State, but looks to compete for a starting role this year, as well as CSUN transfer John Wade. This backcourt trio should look to lead a high paced offense and hampering defense for the Warriors this season.
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