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SMC California Athletics

Saint Mary's College Athletics Gaels
Mikey Lewis 3 vs Nebraska
Josh Jurgens
Mikey Lewis: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals (all career-highs)
74
Nebraska Nebr 3-1,0-0 Big Ten
77
Winner Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 4-0,0-0 WCC
Nebraska Nebr
3-1,0-0 Big Ten
74
Final
77
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC
4-0,0-0 WCC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Nebraska Nebr 43 31 74
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 46 31 77

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

MBB | Gaels Down Huskers 77-74 for First Power-Four Victory Since 2022

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. —  For the first time since the 2022 Paycom Wooden Legacy, the Saint Mary's Gaels (4-0) defeated a "Power-Four" opponent, handing Nebraska (3-1) their first loss of the 2024-25 campaign. The Gaels paired sharpshooting from beyond the arc with pestering defense to pick up their fourth consecutive victory to open the season.

Saint Mary's came out of the gates hot, to the tune of an 8-0 run , featuring a pair of Luke Barrett triples. They extended that lead to double-digits on a Paulius Murauskas three at the 14:21 mark, and held a double digit lead until their was just a little more than two minutes left in the half. Nebraska, however, would close out the half on an 8-1 run, and trailed by just three at the break, and had momentum heavily swung in their favor. Luke Barrett didn't leave the floor in the first half, scoring a team high 13 on 5-8 shooting. Mikey Lewis and Paulius Muraskas each chipped in 11 and two assists, while Lewis also had three steals. Nebraska shot a better percentage than the Gaels in the first half, but a 54% three point shooting clip for SMC kept them ahead by the narrow three point margin at the half. 











Nebraska took their first lead less than a minute into the second half, and extended it out to 54-49 with 15:05 left in regulation. Back to back threes from Mikey Lewis and Augustas Marciulionis gave the Gaels back the lead, and while Nebraska was able to tie things up at 60 apiece, they were never able to once again retake the lead against the stifling Gael defense. A pair of Nebraska free throws cut it to a one point lead with six seconds left, and the Huskers fouled Mikey Lewis on the ensuing inbound. Lewis, with ice in his veins, knocked down both free throws, and Nebraska's game tying three missed short, as the Gaels outlasted the Huskers 77-74. Mikey Lewis showed out in the second half with 12 more points on 4-5 shooting and 2-3 shooting from the perimeter. Mitchell Saxen added six point and, more importantly six huge rebounds to secure his second consecutive double-double. 









Mikey Lewis scored  a career-high 23, making him the first true freshman since Matthew Dellavedova to score in double-figures in each of his first four games as a Gael. He shot 8-14 from the field, 5-7 from three, and added four rebounds, three assists and four steals in a career-high 29 minutes of action. Paulius Murauskas saw his double-double streak come to an end, but still scored 16 and reeled in six boards. Luke Barrett chipped in 15 and was 5-9 from the field and 3-5 from three, while Mitchell Saxen had 12 points and 12 rebounds, including 8 O-boards, for his second consecutive double-double. The Gaels forced 15 turnovers and turned those into 21 points, a very telling stat in this one.

MAKING 'EM PAY
Coming into this game, Saint Mary's was privy to the fact that Nebraska turned the ball over on average 13 times per contest. They took advantage of that with their signature pestering defense, forcing the Huskers into 15 giveaways and turning them into 21 points. On the other end, the Gaels coughed it up just nine times, one less than their season average, and played excellent transition defense, limiting Nebraska to just 11 points off turnovers. 

LEWIS TIES DELLY
True freshman guard Mikey Lewis tied Matthew Dellavedova with his fourth consecutive double-digit scoring outing to open his career. If Mikey Lewis can make it five in a row, he would be the first Saint Mary's true freshman with five straight double-digit scoring contests to open his career in the Randy Bennett era. 

QUOTABLE
"It's great to even be talked about in the company of Delly (Matthew Dellavedova), somebody who not only left his mark at Saint Mary's, but also went on to do big things in the NBA. He's an NBA champion and had a long NBA career, and these are things I aspire to do, so to be in the company of someone like that is a huge honor!" – Mikey Lewis on tying Matthew Dellavedova's four double digit games in his first four games as a Gael

"I think we did a great job today and showed our toughness. We got up by 14, but they were a good team and cut the deficit down to three going into the half. We didn't start the second half well, but our guys stepped up and got the defensive stops that we needed. We had some big defensive performances. Mitchell Saxen was huge in the second half, defensively and on the boards, as well as leadership wise, and it was really fun to watch!" – Associate Head Coach Mickey McConnell on the win

UP NEXT
The Gaels return home to host Stanislaus State on 11/20. Tip off is set for 7 PM.

DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE. 

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