Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
MBB | Gaels Announce Non-Conference Schedule for 2024-25
8/21/2024 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — With the WCC announcing the men's basketball conference matchup dates earlier this month, Saint Mary's Men's Basketball is excited to announce their full 2024-25 schedule. Head Coach Randy Bennett once again set up his team for success with a strong non-conference slate before running the gauntlet of the new 11 team WCC, featuring Oregon State and Washington State. The postseason will begin on March 6 with the start of the WCC Tournament, back at the Orleans Arena, with the Gaels having their sites set at repeating as both WCC Regular Season and Tournament Champs, as well as a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The season will open on November 4 with a primetime 7 PM matchup at home against Towson. The Tigers, who will make the trek all the way from Baltimore to Moraga, were a 20 win team last year and return four of five starters, including leading scorer Christian May. Two more home games follow the Towson matchup, with an 11/7 matchup with Chattanooga and an 11/12 meeting with Akron, both also slated for 7 PM tips. Chattanooga won 21 contests last year and return the outstanding backcourt duo of Trey Bonham and Honor Huff, both All-SoConn honorees last season, who averaged a combined 33 points per contest last year. Akron will be the first 2024 NCAA Tournament team that the Gaels will face, as the Zips are the defending MAC Champs. That said, Akron will be a completely new look team, graduating all three of last year's double-digit scorers, and four of their five starters, but retain talented wing Nate Johnson.
The Gaels will leave the friendly confines of UCU Pavilion and will head to South Dakota to take on Nebraska at the Sanford Pentagon for a neutral site contest. Like Akron, Nebraska was a 2024 NCAA Tournament, but unlike the Zips, the Huskers return two of the top big men in the Big 10, in the forms of Rienk Mast and Brice Williams. That duo combined for nearly 26 points and 13 rebounds per contest, and also knocked down a combined 92 three pointers. Nebraska also returns key reserves Juwan Gary and Sam Hoiberg from a season ago and added transfers Connor Essegian (Wisconsin), Berke Buyuktuncel (UCLA), Gavin Griffiths (Rutgers), Justin Bolis (Southeast Community College), Andrew Morgan (North Dakota State), Rollie Worster (Utah), and Braxton Meah (Washington).
Back at home, the Gaels will draw two California opponents, NCAA DII opponent Stanislaus State and Cal Poly on 11/20 and 11/23 respectively. The Gaels thumped Stanislaus in their opener last season, 107-28, as the Warriors finished their season with an 8-20 mark. Cal Poly will look to improve on what was just a four win campaign in 2023-24, that saw them lose their final 20 consecutive contests. Under the direction of new head coach Mike DeGeorge, returning shooting guard Jarred Hyder and a whole host of transfers, the Mustangs will hope to take major strides during this rebuild season.
The Gaels will spend the Thursday and Friday of their Thanksgiving Weekend in beautiful Palm Springs to take part in the Acrisure Classic. This four team event will feature the Gaels, along with USC, Arizona State and New Mexico. The Gaels open up on Thanksgiving night at 6 PM against the Trojans. After a difficult 2023-24 campaign, Head Coach Eric Musselman has taken the helm of the USC program, and with a team full of transfer talent such as Saint Thomas (Northern Colorado), Desmond Claude (Xavier), Matt Knowling (Yale), Bryce Pope (UC San Diego), Terrance Williams (Michigan), Kevin Patton Jr (San Diego), Rashaun Agee (Bowling Green), Clark Slajchert (Penn) and Josh Cohen (UMass), hopes to make his mark with the Trojans for year one in the Big 10. The Gaels-Trojan matchup will be followed by a contest between Arizona State and New Mexico, and the following day, the two winners will do battle, as well as the two teams that fall short on day one. Like the Trojans, the Sun Devils had a tough final season in the Pac-12, but did retain Head Coach Bobby Hurley. One starter will be back for ASU in 2024-25, as Adam Miller will return after averaging 12 points per game last year, but like with the Trojans, there will be plenty of new faces for Coach Hurley's squad. The Gaels made quick work of New Mexico in their second contest of 2023-24, but the Lobos, undeterred by the early defeat, went on to win the Mountain West Tournament, and make the NCAA Tournament. Point guard Donovan Dent and center Nelly Junior Joseph return to lead this Lobo squad in 2024-25.
December will open at home for the Gaels as they host UTSA at 7 PM on 12/3. The Roadrunners will be another opponent for Saint Mary's with a first year head coach, as Austin Claunch was hired following the culmination of the 11 win 2023-24 season for the Roadrunners. 12 new additions will make up a majority of the Roadrunner roster, making them another wildcard team on the Gaels non-conference slate.
The lone true road contest of the non-conference season for Saint Mary's will be in Salt Lake City, as the Gaels visit the Utah Utes, looking to avenge last season's loss in Moraga. Utah made it to the NIT Semifinals before their season came to a close last year. Lawson Lovering and Gabe Madsen will provide veteran leadership for Coach Craig Smith's squad. This matchup is set for December 7. One week later, the Gaels will renew hostilities with another opponent from last season, returning to the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls to once again square off with Boise State on 12/14. Boise State returns two of their leading scorers from last season in the forms of Tyson Degenhart and O'Mar Stanley, both playing major roles in the Broncos narrow 63-60 victory over the Gaels in 2023.
The non-conference slate winds down with a pair of non-conference home bouts with Merrimack on 12/19 at 7 PM and Utah State on 12/22 at 5 PM. Merrimack has become one of the top NEC programs since making the jump to DI in 2019 and return three of five starters for this upcoming season. Utah State might be the Gaels toughest matchup of the non-conference slate. Coming off of a 28-7 campaign, the Aggies return a trio of starters, and should make for a marquee matchup at UCU Pavilion to close out non-conference play.
Due to the addition of Washington State and Oregon State as affiliate members of the WCC, conference play will open up one week earlier, just before New Year's Day. The non-conference slate should lay the groundwork for the Gaels to once again be an NCAA Tournament team, looking to make it back to the Big Dance for a program record fourth consecutive year.
#GaelsRise
The season will open on November 4 with a primetime 7 PM matchup at home against Towson. The Tigers, who will make the trek all the way from Baltimore to Moraga, were a 20 win team last year and return four of five starters, including leading scorer Christian May. Two more home games follow the Towson matchup, with an 11/7 matchup with Chattanooga and an 11/12 meeting with Akron, both also slated for 7 PM tips. Chattanooga won 21 contests last year and return the outstanding backcourt duo of Trey Bonham and Honor Huff, both All-SoConn honorees last season, who averaged a combined 33 points per contest last year. Akron will be the first 2024 NCAA Tournament team that the Gaels will face, as the Zips are the defending MAC Champs. That said, Akron will be a completely new look team, graduating all three of last year's double-digit scorers, and four of their five starters, but retain talented wing Nate Johnson.
The Gaels will leave the friendly confines of UCU Pavilion and will head to South Dakota to take on Nebraska at the Sanford Pentagon for a neutral site contest. Like Akron, Nebraska was a 2024 NCAA Tournament, but unlike the Zips, the Huskers return two of the top big men in the Big 10, in the forms of Rienk Mast and Brice Williams. That duo combined for nearly 26 points and 13 rebounds per contest, and also knocked down a combined 92 three pointers. Nebraska also returns key reserves Juwan Gary and Sam Hoiberg from a season ago and added transfers Connor Essegian (Wisconsin), Berke Buyuktuncel (UCLA), Gavin Griffiths (Rutgers), Justin Bolis (Southeast Community College), Andrew Morgan (North Dakota State), Rollie Worster (Utah), and Braxton Meah (Washington).
Back at home, the Gaels will draw two California opponents, NCAA DII opponent Stanislaus State and Cal Poly on 11/20 and 11/23 respectively. The Gaels thumped Stanislaus in their opener last season, 107-28, as the Warriors finished their season with an 8-20 mark. Cal Poly will look to improve on what was just a four win campaign in 2023-24, that saw them lose their final 20 consecutive contests. Under the direction of new head coach Mike DeGeorge, returning shooting guard Jarred Hyder and a whole host of transfers, the Mustangs will hope to take major strides during this rebuild season.
The Gaels will spend the Thursday and Friday of their Thanksgiving Weekend in beautiful Palm Springs to take part in the Acrisure Classic. This four team event will feature the Gaels, along with USC, Arizona State and New Mexico. The Gaels open up on Thanksgiving night at 6 PM against the Trojans. After a difficult 2023-24 campaign, Head Coach Eric Musselman has taken the helm of the USC program, and with a team full of transfer talent such as Saint Thomas (Northern Colorado), Desmond Claude (Xavier), Matt Knowling (Yale), Bryce Pope (UC San Diego), Terrance Williams (Michigan), Kevin Patton Jr (San Diego), Rashaun Agee (Bowling Green), Clark Slajchert (Penn) and Josh Cohen (UMass), hopes to make his mark with the Trojans for year one in the Big 10. The Gaels-Trojan matchup will be followed by a contest between Arizona State and New Mexico, and the following day, the two winners will do battle, as well as the two teams that fall short on day one. Like the Trojans, the Sun Devils had a tough final season in the Pac-12, but did retain Head Coach Bobby Hurley. One starter will be back for ASU in 2024-25, as Adam Miller will return after averaging 12 points per game last year, but like with the Trojans, there will be plenty of new faces for Coach Hurley's squad. The Gaels made quick work of New Mexico in their second contest of 2023-24, but the Lobos, undeterred by the early defeat, went on to win the Mountain West Tournament, and make the NCAA Tournament. Point guard Donovan Dent and center Nelly Junior Joseph return to lead this Lobo squad in 2024-25.
December will open at home for the Gaels as they host UTSA at 7 PM on 12/3. The Roadrunners will be another opponent for Saint Mary's with a first year head coach, as Austin Claunch was hired following the culmination of the 11 win 2023-24 season for the Roadrunners. 12 new additions will make up a majority of the Roadrunner roster, making them another wildcard team on the Gaels non-conference slate.
The lone true road contest of the non-conference season for Saint Mary's will be in Salt Lake City, as the Gaels visit the Utah Utes, looking to avenge last season's loss in Moraga. Utah made it to the NIT Semifinals before their season came to a close last year. Lawson Lovering and Gabe Madsen will provide veteran leadership for Coach Craig Smith's squad. This matchup is set for December 7. One week later, the Gaels will renew hostilities with another opponent from last season, returning to the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls to once again square off with Boise State on 12/14. Boise State returns two of their leading scorers from last season in the forms of Tyson Degenhart and O'Mar Stanley, both playing major roles in the Broncos narrow 63-60 victory over the Gaels in 2023.
The non-conference slate winds down with a pair of non-conference home bouts with Merrimack on 12/19 at 7 PM and Utah State on 12/22 at 5 PM. Merrimack has become one of the top NEC programs since making the jump to DI in 2019 and return three of five starters for this upcoming season. Utah State might be the Gaels toughest matchup of the non-conference slate. Coming off of a 28-7 campaign, the Aggies return a trio of starters, and should make for a marquee matchup at UCU Pavilion to close out non-conference play.
Due to the addition of Washington State and Oregon State as affiliate members of the WCC, conference play will open up one week earlier, just before New Year's Day. The non-conference slate should lay the groundwork for the Gaels to once again be an NCAA Tournament team, looking to make it back to the Big Dance for a program record fourth consecutive year.
#GaelsRise
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