MORAGA, Calif. — For the third time in the past four years, Saint Mary's (6-0) has gone unbeaten in their first six contests, defeating another quality opponents in the form of the Cal Poly Mustangs (3-4), 80-66. While the Mustangs run and gun style had worked well in their first six games of the season, it was the Gaels physical, grind-it-out style that reigned supreme in the 14 point victory.
For the first 5:30 of this contest, Cal Poly dictated the tempo of play and took an early 13-11, however, the Gaels responded to this adversity by going on a 17-2 run, with nine of those points scored by super sub Mikey Lewis. Ahead 28-15, the Gaels offense continued to thrive, as they grew their lead to 47-31 at the break. Despite the high scoring output from Saint Mary's, the Gaels had just one double digit scorer, but his impact was felt in more ways than just one, as Luke Barrett scored 11, led the team with seven rebounds and two steals, and assisted on a couple more Gael baskets, while not leaving the floor. As expected due to the size discrepancies between these two squads, the Gaels finished +9 on the glass, +8 on second chance points, and +10 on points in the paint.
A Luke Barrett layup on the Gaels first offensive possession of the second half would give Saint Mary's their largest lead at 18 points, but it was Cal Poly who again opened a half by outplaying the Gaels, going 17-4 run to cut the deficit to just five with 15:21 to go. The two teams would trade bucket after bucket over the next five minutes, keeping the Mustang deficit at five, 59-54 at the halfway mark, but a 7-0 run, generated by a triple, a layup and an assist from Augustas Marciulionis would push the Gaels back ahead by double figures. Cal Poly would get as close as nine over the final 6:30, but the Gaels defense stiffened, while the offense continued to hit its stride, all the way to an 80-66 victory. After a relatively quiet first half, Mitchell Saxen was dominant in the second half, with nine points and nine rebounds (seven offensive), while going a perfect 4-4 from the field. Augustas Marciulionis also scored nine in half number two, while Luke Barrett chipped in eight to help lead the Gaels to victory. The Gaels 10 second half offensive rebounds led to 14 second chance points, and were the true difference in tonight's contest.
Luke Barrett matched his career-high with 19 points while reeling in 10 rebounds for his second double-double on the young season. Barrett connected on a career-high eight field goals and matched his career-highs with three made three point buckets and three assists. Right behind Barrett was Augustas Marciulionis with 18 points, five assists and three steals. Mitchell Saxen not only scored his 1000th point (entered tonight at 999), but went on to score 13 in total to go along with 13 rebounds, ripping down 11 offensive boards, more than the entire Cal Poly team. Saxen's third double-double of the season was accompanied by three assists and three steals in what was one of his best games on the young campaign. Jordan Ross rounded out the group of double-digit scorers, with 10 points and a career-high eight assists. As the dust settled, the "bruiser" stats once again were swung way in favor of the Gaels: +19 on the boards, +11 in offensive rebounding, +19 in second chance scoring, and +18 in paint scoring.
A NIGHT FOR THE VETERANS
Coming into this season, Saint Mary's had the asset of having not one, but two fifth year seniors on their roster in the forms of Luke Barrett and Mitchell Saxen. While the duo have been on the SMC roster together for five years, tonight was the first time that both have recorded double-doubles in the same game. Barrett was the Gaels leading scorer, matching his career-high with 19 points, while ripping down 10 rebounds. Despite being a wing, Barrett has proven to be a ferocious rebounder this year, ranking second on the team in both rebounding and offensive rebounding. Saxen entered tonight needing just one point to become the 40th ever Gael to score 1000 points for his career. It took him a while, but at the 7:14 mark of the first half, Saxen hit a layup to give the Gaels a 30-17 lead for his 1000th and 1001st points. He would hit one more shot in the first half, finishing with four points and four rebounds, but went off for nine points and nine rebounds, not missing from the field in the second half, finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds. This was Saxen's 18th career double-double in what's been a storied five years as a Gael.
A PAIR OF POINT GUARDS
While Augustas Marciulionis will typically start at the point and Jordan Ross will play the two, both of their point guard abilities were on display tonight, as the duo accounted for 13 of the Gaels 21 assists. Ross led the way with a career-high eight and just two turnovers against a ball hawking Cal Poly defense. In his last two games, Ross has 13 assists to just three turnovers. Augustas Marciulionis finished second on the team with five dimes, bringing to 333 for his career. He is just the 12th Gaels in program history, and the sixth under Bennett, to record at least 330 assists in his career.
HARDAWAY'S FINGERPRINTS ALL-OVER THE WIN
While Ashton Hardaway put up a respectable five points and five rebounds in the contest, his contributions tonight went so much further than the box score would indicate. Hardaway played a career-high 25 minutes, and in those 25 minutes, the Gaels were +31 against the Mustangs. Hardaway played quality defense and spaced the floor well, stymying anyone who played the four for Cal Poly. Over the last two games, not only has Hardaway scored 12 points and reeled in 12 boards, but the Gaels are +56 with him on the floor.
POSTGAME CHAT
UP NEXT
The Gaels will head to Palm Desert for the Acrisure Classic from November 28-29. The Gaels will get USC on the 28th at 6 PM, and then will take on either New Mexico or Arizona State on the 29th.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
