SAN FRANCISCO — In an early candidate for matchup of the year, the Gaels (14-6, 5-0 WCC) continued their red hot play, defeating the San Francisco Dons (14-7, 5-1 WCC) 77-60 to affirm themselves atop the WCC standings as the lone unbeaten team in conference play. The Gaels never trailed the Dons, who suffered their first loss on their home court tonight. This win marks the Gaels 11th in their last 12. 

It might have been pouring outside, but the Gaels made it rain inside War Memorial Gymnasium, knocking down their first six perimeter jumpers, including three from Joshua Jefferson, to build an early 19-7 lead, prompting an early San Francisco timeout. The Dons regrouped, from that point, cutting the deficit to as little as six points, but the Gaels potent combination of lockdown defense and three point sharpshooting kept them ahead for the entirety of the half, taking a 39-28 lead into the halftime break. Aidan Mahaney led all scorers with 14 points, shooting 4-7 from deep in the first half, while Joshua Jefferson added 13 points on 5-7 shooting from the field and a perfect 3-3 from three. Augustas Marciulionis only scored two first half points, but ripped down seven boards and dished out four assists, both team highs. 

Mitchell Saxen scored the first two buckets of the second half as part of an 11 point frame, as the Gaels continued to expand their lead in the second half, en route to the 17 point victory. Behind Saxen's 11 second half points, Jefferson added eight more to finish with a career-high total of 21, while Mahaney also dropped eight in the second half. 

Aidan Mahaney dropped 22 in the game, marking his fifth 20+ point scoring output of the season. Joshua Jefferson was not far behind, scoring a career-high 21 to go along with 10 rebounds for his third career double-double. Mitchell Saxen also reached double figures with 16 and eight boards. Augustas Marciulionis stuffed the statsheet with nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists. 

JJ HAS A NIGHT
No Gael made a bigger contribution to tonight's contest than Joshua Jefferson. The sophomore power forward scored a career-high 21, burying four of five three pointers. As if his scoring total wasn't enough, the Las Vegas native added 10 rebounds for his third career double-double. Breaking out of a bit of a shooting cold spell, Jefferson's four made threes were also a career-high, as he came into the game having only made eight on the season. With Jefferson developing his jumpshot to go along with his strong post scoring ability, he has become one of the most dangerous players in the WCC. 

BACK ON THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Mitchell Saxen ranks fifth in the country in offensive rebounding, and added to that cause tonight with six o-boards. The big man was part of a Gaels second chance scoring discrepancy of 13-0 against the Dons. Saxen continues to do the unthinkable, tallying more offensive boards than defensive, as he now is +13 in that statistical category.

CLEANING UP THE ACT IN THE SECOND HALF
While the Gaels did build an 11 point lead at the half, turnovers were what kept the Dons in the game in the first half, as Saint Mary's coughed up the ball eight times leading to nine USF points. In the second half, the Gaels cut the turnover number down to four and surrendered just one point off of turnovers. A team that is able to make adjustments to improve their game after a break often is a winning team, and the Gaels proved that tonight.

UP NEXT
The Gaels will host Pacific on Thursday night. Tip off is set for 8 PM on 1/25. 

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