Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Alex Ducas to Use Fifth Year, Returning to Saint Mary’s
4/11/2023 10:28:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif — Senior sharpshooter Alex Ducas, one of the best three-point shooters in Saint Mary's history and a member of the All-WCC team last year, has announced his return to Saint Mary's for his fifth collegiate season. The Australian has decided to use the extra year of eligibility granted from the NCAA following the COVID-19 pandemic, making him eligible to play during the 2023-24 season.
The senior season for Ducas was his best as a Gael, averaging a career-best 12.5 points over 31.3 minutes per game. He finished with the third-most three-pointers made in the conference with 87 (fourth-most in a single season in SMC history), shooting at a 41.4% clip from beyond the arc. He played his best basketball at the end of the season, where he was named to the All-Tournament team at the WCC Tournament and was an honorable mention All-WCC selection.
At Saint Mary's, Ducas litters the top of the record books in a variety of categories. He is the fifth-best free throw shooter in program history (83.9%), and is tied for sixth in three-pointers made with 197. He also became the 39th Gael to reach 1,000 career points, doing so in the Gaels NCAA Tournament win over VCU. In that game, he led the Gaels with 17 points.
The season ended with Ducas leaving the UConn game in the Second Round with a back injury, and at the time of the injury, he was the team's leading scorer while SMC was in front late in the first half. His return to the Gaels should be a big boost to a program that is hoping to return to the NCAA Tournament for the third season in a row, which would be the first time in program history.
With Ducas scheduled to return to the Gaels next season, Saint Mary's is projected to return three of their five starting players from the NCAA Tournament. Ducas will join Aidan Mahaney and Mitchell Saxen as returning starters, with Augustas Marciulionis likely to enter the starting lineup at point guard. Joshua Jefferson and Mason Forbes figure to both see time at the power forward position, vacated from the graduation of Kyle Bowen. In the three returning starters (Ducas, Mahaney, Saxen), the Gaels are returning 38 points per game from their starting lineup.
#GaelsRise — There's no place like University Credit Union Pavilion for Gaels Basketball. Place your deposit for season tickets now to experience all of the action for the 2023-24 Men's Basketball season.
The senior season for Ducas was his best as a Gael, averaging a career-best 12.5 points over 31.3 minutes per game. He finished with the third-most three-pointers made in the conference with 87 (fourth-most in a single season in SMC history), shooting at a 41.4% clip from beyond the arc. He played his best basketball at the end of the season, where he was named to the All-Tournament team at the WCC Tournament and was an honorable mention All-WCC selection.
At Saint Mary's, Ducas litters the top of the record books in a variety of categories. He is the fifth-best free throw shooter in program history (83.9%), and is tied for sixth in three-pointers made with 197. He also became the 39th Gael to reach 1,000 career points, doing so in the Gaels NCAA Tournament win over VCU. In that game, he led the Gaels with 17 points.
The season ended with Ducas leaving the UConn game in the Second Round with a back injury, and at the time of the injury, he was the team's leading scorer while SMC was in front late in the first half. His return to the Gaels should be a big boost to a program that is hoping to return to the NCAA Tournament for the third season in a row, which would be the first time in program history.
With Ducas scheduled to return to the Gaels next season, Saint Mary's is projected to return three of their five starting players from the NCAA Tournament. Ducas will join Aidan Mahaney and Mitchell Saxen as returning starters, with Augustas Marciulionis likely to enter the starting lineup at point guard. Joshua Jefferson and Mason Forbes figure to both see time at the power forward position, vacated from the graduation of Kyle Bowen. In the three returning starters (Ducas, Mahaney, Saxen), the Gaels are returning 38 points per game from their starting lineup.
#GaelsRise — There's no place like University Credit Union Pavilion for Gaels Basketball. Place your deposit for season tickets now to experience all of the action for the 2023-24 Men's Basketball season.
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