Sunday, October 26
Oxford, Miss
9:30 AM
Saint Mary's College of California
at
Mississippi
Tony Duckett scored 12 points, including knocking down 7-8 free throw attempts in the exhibition vs Arizona
MBB | Gaels Set for Final Preseason Tune Up at Ole Miss
10/24/2025 3:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — We are less than two weeks out from the start of the 2025-26 Saint Mary's Men's Basketball campaign, and the Gaels will take part in one final exhibition tune up before they embark on their 118th season of competition. For this final exhibition, the Gaels will make the trek of approximately 2200 miles across the country to Oxford, Mississippi to take on Ole Miss, the second Sweet 16 team in as many exhibitions the Gaels will face.
WHAT WE LEARNED FROM EXHIBITION ONE
The Gaels took on the University of Arizona in their first preseason exhibition in Tucson a week ago. While the Gaels ultimately fell by 13 points in this one, they were able to keep things tight throughout a majority of the contest against the preseason 13th ranked team in the country, as the Gaels were tied or trailed by just one possession for 9:44 of this contest, compared to just 7:13 of game time trailing by double-digits. Offensively, the Gaels were led by Joshua Dent, who earned the start at the point and looked ready to step up into a major role in his sophomore campaign. The Wollongong, New South Wales product led all Gaels players with 14 points scored, and was crafty scoring around the rim, with eight of those points being scored in the paint. Joining Dent in double-figures were Paulius Murauskas and Tony Duckett, each with 12. In his return to his former school, Murauskas scored eight of his points in the paint, and the other four at the stripe, while ripping down six boards in a showing of his physicality. Duckett, a transfer from San Diego, also was able to show off his physicality, drawing numerous fouls and knocking down 7-8 shots from the line. The Gaels led the Wildcats on the glass, 39-35, including a 10-6 advantage on the offensive boards, due in big part to a 10 rebounds performance by Andrew McKeever. The Gaels scored 34 of their 68 points in the paint, and another 16 from the free throw line after drawing 20 Wildcat fouls, as Saint Mary's will once again look to be a physically imposing basketball team. Unfortunately, the Gaels did commit 12 turnovers resulting in 20 Arizona points, something that will certainly be a focal point in practice and this upcoming exhibition against Ole Miss, as Saint Mary's will look to clean that up to start the regular season.
ABOUT THE REBELS
Like the Gaels first exhibition opponent, Arizona, Ole Miss also is coming off of a Sweet 16 bid in 2025, just their second in program history. That said, the Rebels, like the Gaels, are only in the receiving votes category in the preseason AP Poll, despite closing the 2024-25 season ranked 18th in the country. Entering his third season, Head Coach Chris Beard looks to build off of 44 wins in his first two years at the helm, the most in over a decade at Ole Miss over a two year stretch. Coach Beard will have to do it this season with an almost entirely new cast of characters, returning just one starter from last season, center Malik Dia. Joining Dia will be standout transfers like Koren Johnson (Louisville/Washington), Kezza Giffa (High Point), AJ Storr (Kansas/Wisconsin/St Johns) and James Scott (Louisville). Those names gave Ole Miss the distinction of the 12th best transfer recruiting class of 2025. A year ago, the Rebels' calling card was ball security, as they turned the ball over just 5.1 times per contest, and while this is a relatively new team, Coach Beard will likely have his team coached up to not give away possessions again. While this will not officially go down as the first ever meeting between the Gaels and Rebels, it will be the first ever exhibition meeting between Saint Mary's and Ole Miss.
NOTE: No live stream or live stats will be provided for this contest. A live audio stream can be found here.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
WHAT WE LEARNED FROM EXHIBITION ONE
The Gaels took on the University of Arizona in their first preseason exhibition in Tucson a week ago. While the Gaels ultimately fell by 13 points in this one, they were able to keep things tight throughout a majority of the contest against the preseason 13th ranked team in the country, as the Gaels were tied or trailed by just one possession for 9:44 of this contest, compared to just 7:13 of game time trailing by double-digits. Offensively, the Gaels were led by Joshua Dent, who earned the start at the point and looked ready to step up into a major role in his sophomore campaign. The Wollongong, New South Wales product led all Gaels players with 14 points scored, and was crafty scoring around the rim, with eight of those points being scored in the paint. Joining Dent in double-figures were Paulius Murauskas and Tony Duckett, each with 12. In his return to his former school, Murauskas scored eight of his points in the paint, and the other four at the stripe, while ripping down six boards in a showing of his physicality. Duckett, a transfer from San Diego, also was able to show off his physicality, drawing numerous fouls and knocking down 7-8 shots from the line. The Gaels led the Wildcats on the glass, 39-35, including a 10-6 advantage on the offensive boards, due in big part to a 10 rebounds performance by Andrew McKeever. The Gaels scored 34 of their 68 points in the paint, and another 16 from the free throw line after drawing 20 Wildcat fouls, as Saint Mary's will once again look to be a physically imposing basketball team. Unfortunately, the Gaels did commit 12 turnovers resulting in 20 Arizona points, something that will certainly be a focal point in practice and this upcoming exhibition against Ole Miss, as Saint Mary's will look to clean that up to start the regular season.
ABOUT THE REBELS
Like the Gaels first exhibition opponent, Arizona, Ole Miss also is coming off of a Sweet 16 bid in 2025, just their second in program history. That said, the Rebels, like the Gaels, are only in the receiving votes category in the preseason AP Poll, despite closing the 2024-25 season ranked 18th in the country. Entering his third season, Head Coach Chris Beard looks to build off of 44 wins in his first two years at the helm, the most in over a decade at Ole Miss over a two year stretch. Coach Beard will have to do it this season with an almost entirely new cast of characters, returning just one starter from last season, center Malik Dia. Joining Dia will be standout transfers like Koren Johnson (Louisville/Washington), Kezza Giffa (High Point), AJ Storr (Kansas/Wisconsin/St Johns) and James Scott (Louisville). Those names gave Ole Miss the distinction of the 12th best transfer recruiting class of 2025. A year ago, the Rebels' calling card was ball security, as they turned the ball over just 5.1 times per contest, and while this is a relatively new team, Coach Beard will likely have his team coached up to not give away possessions again. While this will not officially go down as the first ever meeting between the Gaels and Rebels, it will be the first ever exhibition meeting between Saint Mary's and Ole Miss.
NOTE: No live stream or live stats will be provided for this contest. A live audio stream can be found here.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
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