MORAGA, Calif. — Get ready to swap out your turkey for popcorn, as the Saint Mary's Gaels (6-0) will spend their Thanksgiving and Black Friday with a couple of blockbuster hoops matchups, taking on USC (5-1) on Thursday at 6 PM and either Arizona State (5-1) or New Mexico (5-1) on Friday as part of the Acrisure Classic. The events will take place at Acrisure Arena, a brand new (opened December 2022) 11,000 seat arena in the heart of Palm Desert. 

THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. USC Trojans
Thursday, November 28 at 6 PM
Acrisure Arena – Palm Desert, Calif. 
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Arizona State Sun Devils/New Mexico Lobos
Friday, November 29 at 6:30 PM (if Gaels win Thursday)/9 PM (if Gaels lose Thursday)
Acrisure Arena – Palm Desert, Calif. 
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A GOOD START, WITH A CHANCE TO BE GREAT
The Gaels have started at 6-0, something that has happened 15 times in program history, with the first time occurring all the way back in 1913-14. Eight of those 15 times have occurred under Coach Bennett. The Gaels, however, will have a chance to extend on their season opening winning streak even further, to put themselves amongst the greats in program history. In 1917, 1977 and 2007, the Gaels won seven in a row to start the year. In 1913, the Gaels opened the season with eight consecutive wins. Last, but certainly not least, in 1988 and 2013, the Gaels began their seasons with a program record 9-0 start. 

A TWO POINT GUARD SYSTEM
Over the past two seasons, the Gaels have not trusted anyone with the ball in their hands more than Augustas Marciulionis. The defending WCC Player of the Year and WCC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Marciulionis has become just as well known for his scoring ability as his playmaking ability, boasting an impressive 333 career assists and a 2.83 assist to turnover ratio over the last two seasons. That said, the Gaels starting two guard, Jordan Ross, has really been able to demonstrate his playmaking ability as well over the last two games. The Sophomore Arizona Compass Prep product spent a majority of his prep career as a point guard, and those skills were on full display last week, when he recorded 13 of his 17 assists on the year in just two games. Ross's ability to handle the ball and run the offense has allowed Marciulionis to have more off ball scoring opportunities, and has led to the Vilnius, Lithuania native to putting up his best career offensive number so far on the young season. 

ABOUT THE TROJANS
After a disappointing final season in the Pac-12 that resulted in then Head Coach Andy Enfield's fourth losing season in 11 years at USC (tied most losing seasons by any single USC Coach), the Trojans went back to the coaching well, and hired Eric Mussleman to guide Trojans in their inaugural season in the Big 10. A proven winner at the college ranks, Musselman boasts six NCAA Tournament berths in eight potential years (2020 tournament canceled) in his time at Nevada (2015-19) and Arkansas (2019-24), and has carried that winning spirit to LA, leading USC to their best start under a first year head coach (5-1) since 1950. Compared to last season's 15-18 squad, this Trojan team is nearly unrecognizable, with none of their top-10 rotation players on last year's roster (9 transfers, 1 true freshman). A sizable squad, this physical USC team wants to patiently run their offense, and use a majority of the 30 second shot clock to get their best look at each and every possession. They are often able to do this, as they seldom turn the ball over. The Trojans have a very healthy scoring distribution, with five players averaging 10 or more points per game, led by Michigan transfer Terrance Williams II, who has shot 41% from three, while knocking down an incredible 85% of his shots from inside the arc. Also averaging double figures on this USC team are Boise State transfer Chibuzo Agbo and Xavier transfer Desmond Claude, who the Gaels both saw last year at different points. Now, that duo makes up the starting backcourt for the Trojans. Saint Mary's has never beaten USC in 10 previous meetings, but also has not squared off with the Trojans since 2009. 

ABOUT THE SUN DEVILS
Bobby Hurley has kicked off year 10 at the helm of the Arizona State program, and year one in the Big 12 conference with a 5-1 non-conference start, with their lone loss coming to #3 Gonzaga in Spokane, by only eight points. With four players shooting at 40% or better from beyond the arc, headlined by freshman phenom and leading scorer Joson Sanon (14.3 PPG, 51.7% 3pt), the Sun Devils have become one of the most feared three point shooting teams in the country. Like the Trojans, the Sun Devils also have a starter who the Gaels got a look at last season, as starting point guard Alston May was part of a Missouri State squad that upset SMC last year. The Gaels and Sun Devils have squared off twice in program history, including once in the Bennett and Hurley eras back in 2019. The Gaels have won both of those meetings, including a 96-56 shilacking in 2019, that saw Arizona State with only three scorers in the game. 

ABOUT THE LOBOS
A team that Saint Mary's has seen three times in the past five seasons, with a chance for four matchups in six years, the New Mexico Lobos also come into the Acrisure Classic at 5-1, with their lone loss coming to 22nd ranked St. Johns. Head Coach Richard Pitino is coming off of leading UNM to back-to-back 20+ win seasons for the first time in a decade, including a 2024 Mountain West Tournament Title, and now has his team rolling in 2024-25 winning five of their first six. Led by their physical, pestering defense that forces turnovers and then kicks their team into high gear in transition offense, the Lobos have been led by point guard Donovan Dent, who leads the way scoring 17 points per game and dishing out eight assists per contest. While Dent leads the offense, it's been more of team effort defensively, as four Lobos have at least ten steals, led by Tru Washington with 19, while big man Nelly Junior Joseph has 14 rejections, paving the way for UNM to rank third in the country in blocked shots per game. All-time, the Gaels and Lobos have met five times, and while the Lobos lead the series 3-2, the Gaels have won two of the last three meetings, including a 72-58 victory in Moraga last year. 

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