MORAGA, Calif. — After their 15 game non-conference slate has come to a close, the Gaels are primed and ready to take on their WCC foes in conference play. As the calendar flips to 2024, Saint Mary's will hit the road to Southern California to open up their conference schedule with San Diego and LMU and what should be a solid early test for the 2023-24 Gaels squad who look to defend their share of the 2022-23 WCC regular season title.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at San Diego Toreros
Thursday, January 4 at 8:00 PM
Jenny Craig Pavilion - San Diego, Calif.
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*Game cannot be streamed online, can only be watched on CBS Sports Network
Saint Mary's Gaels at LMU Lions
Saturday, January 6 at 6:00 PM
Gersten Pavilion - Los Angeles, Calif.
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REACHING NEW HEIGHTS FROM THE WING
Both of Saint Mary's wing players, Alex Ducas and Luke Barrett put up career games against the Kent State Golden Flashes last Friday night. In the 66-46 victory, starter Alex Ducas played a season high 36 minutes and achieved something he had never done before in his five year career at Saint Mary's, logging a 10 point, 12 rebound double double. The Geraldton, West Australia native had only reached double digit rebounding numbers once before, in 2020 against Northern Iowa, but only score nine points in that contest. Also impressing on Friday was Luke Barrett, who tallied a career-high 19 points on 7-9 shooting. Barrett did his damage inside and out, scoring 10 points in the paint and splashing home a pair of corner threes. It was Barrett's third career double digit scoring output, and was enough to earn him his first ever WCC Player of the Week honors.
ELITE DEFENSIVE TEAM
Coming out of their 15 game non-conference schedule, the Gaels rank in the top-15 in the country in both scoring defense (58.5 PPG allowed, 3rd in the NCAA) and field goal percent defense (37.7% FG allowed, 11th in the NCAA). Saint Mary's has held seven opponents under 60 points this season, and is 7-0 in those instances. They are one of eight teams in the NCAA holding opponents under 60 points per game, and currently rank 11th in defensive efficiency according to kenpom.
ABOUT THE TOREROS
San Diego is off to their best start since 2018, winning 10 of their first 15 contests to open the year. Second year Head Coach Steve Lavin has the team trending in the right direction after winning just 11 games all of last season. The team graduated four of their five starters from a year ago, but has leaned heavily on their lone returning starter, Wayne McKinney III. The junior point guard leads the Toreros, averaging 15 points and 3 assists per contest. Joining McKinney in double digit scoring averages are the Toreros' sixth man from a season ago, Deuce Turner (14 PPG) and DII Black Hills State transfer PJ Hayes (10 PPG). Big man Steven Jamerson II has been the biggest rebounding threat for the Toreros, having reached double digits on the glass in each of his last four contests. This game should be an interesting clash of styles, between the Toreros, who rank 15th in the country in fastbreak points, and the Gaels physical, grind it out defense. All-time, the Gaels lead the series with the Toreros 59-36 and have not lost to San Diego since the 2013-14 season.
ABOUT THE LIONS
The Gaels look to avenge last season's road defeat against the Lions, who picked up the overtime upset at Gersten Pavilion a year ago. The Lions sit at 0.500 (7-7) after non-conference play, and split with their common opponents with Saint Mary's, defeating UNLV 78-75, and falling to Colorado State 76-67. Stan Johnson is in his fourth season at the helm of the LMU ship, having built the Lions into a strong WCC competitor. Coach Johnson returns his starting front court from a season ago (Keli Leaupepe and Rick Issanza), but has a brand new backcourt in his starting five. Leading that group is Gonzaga transfer Dominick Harris, who began the season coming off the bench, but earned his way into the starting five over the last three contests, averaging 15 points and shooting 44% from three. Harris replaced Justin Wright, a North Carolina Central transfer, in the starting five, but Wright continues to be a high volume scoring option off the bench as the team's second leading scorer. CSUN transfer big man Alex Merkviladze and LSU transfer point guard Justice Hill are both also averaging double digit scoring, however, Hill has missed each of the last three contests. The Lions biggest strength is their depth, oftentimes going six deep off their bench to combat their average 18 fouls per game. They average 28.9 points per game from their bench, good for second in the WCC. This will be the 156th meeting between these two programs, with the Gaels leading the series 100-55.
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