MORAGA, Calif. —  Saint Mary's Men's Basketball has made their first signing out of the transfer portal for the upcoming 2024-24 season, as Paulius Murauskas, formerly of the University of Arizona, has opted to continue his college basketball career at Saint Mary's. A 6-8 power forward, Murauskas will look to fill the four spot for the Gaels. He will come to Moraga with three years of eligibility. 

Hailing from Kaunus, Lithuania, Murauskas appeared in 23 games off the bench for the Wildcats in his 2023-24 freshman campaign. In limited minutes, the big man averaged 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds per contest, shooting a stellar 51.9% from three, where more than half of his field goal attempts came from. He scored 10 points in his collegiate debut against Morgan State, followed by a five point, 10 rebounds contest against Southern. His best game as a Wildcat, however, came against rival Arizona State, when he dropped 12 points in just six minutes of play against the Sun Devils. Murauskas hit a three in 10 of 23 appearances at Arizona, and multiple three pointers in four different contests. 

Prior to his time in Tucson, Murauskas spent three years in the LKL, the top basketball league in Lithuania. Murauskas began his career with his home club of BC Zalgiris Kaunas, before also spending a season each with Nevezis Kediainai and Lietkabelis. Paulius played in 71 games between the three squads in LKL competition, starting 16. He averaged 7.1 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per contest, while shooting 54.7% from the field. Murauskas also represented his country in the FIBA U18 European Championships in Izmir, Turkey. He led the entire tournament in scoring, averaging 20.7 points per game, shooting 47.7% from the field. His scoring output came to a head when he dropped 32 against Israel in the seventh place game. 

Muraskas will be joining a Gaels squad that features his countryman, Augustas Marciulionis, as the duo make up two of the 24 Division I college basketball players from Lithuania. 

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