Wednesday, November 19
Moraga, CA
7:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
Arkansas State
Joshua Dent is one of three Gaels to not miss a free throw this season
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Gaels Close Out Season Opening Homestand with Matchups Against Arkansas State and UC Merced
11/17/2025 2:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — It's been a dream start to the 2025-26 campaign for the Saint Mary's Gaels (4-0), who are unbeaten through their first four, defeating their opponents by an average margin of 27 points per contest. The Gaels schedule began this season with six straight home contests, the final two of which will be this week, as they welcome in the Red Wolves of Arkansas State (3-1) and the Bobcats of UC Merced (0-1), looking to close out the season opening homestand at 6-0.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves
Wednesday, November 19 at 7 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. UC Merced Bobcats
Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
DEFENDING HOME COURT
The Gaels have won four straight at home to open the 2025-26 campaign. That comes on the back of nine straight wins at home to close out the 2024-25 season, bringing the Gaels to 13 wins in a row at home. That matches the Gaels eighth longest home winning streak in program history, matching the feat they accomplished in the 2012-13 season when they won their first 13 straight at home. The program's longest home winning ranged across three seasons, when the Gaels won 23 in a row inside UCU Pavilion ranging from the 2020-21 season to the 2022-23 campaign.
STAYING HOT FROM THE STRIPE
The Gaels have been nearly automatic from the free throw line this year, shooting at an 83.5% clip. Neither Joshua Dent nor Mikey Lewis have missed a free throw attempt this year, with Lewis sitting at 21-for-21, and Dent not far behind at 13-for-13. Liam Campbell rounds out the group of perfect free throw shooters, knocking down his lone attempt. These numbers are even more impressive when figuring that the Gaels shot just 69.5% from the stripe last year. The best free throw percentage from a team in program history came in the 2017-18 season, when the Gaels shot 76.9%. While it is still early, this year's squad could challenge that record, as they already have broken the consecutive free throw make record, knocking down 30 in a row between their St. Thomas and Chattanooga contests.
ABOUT THE RED WOLVES
Under the first year direction of Head Coach Ryan Pannone, Arkansas State is off to an early 3-1 start, playing three of their first four contests away from the Gem State. Coach Pannone took over this season for Bryan Hodgson, who led the Red Wolves to back-to-back 20+ win seasons for the first time since the late 1980s and departed for South Florida. With a completely new roster from last year's squad, Coach Pannone's team was still picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll, after being one of four teams to share the Sun Belt Regular Season Title a year ago. Of this new cast of characters, the Red Wolves, the biggest impact player thus far has been point guard Chandler Jackson. The former three year Florida State Seminole has been solid for the Red Wolves, averaging 15 points and four assists per contest, including 33 points in a win over Missouri State, and seven assists in their most recent win over Christian Brothers. Led by Jackson, the Red Wolves are scoring a stellar 84 points per game, but have struggled defensively, allowing 82 per game. This will be the first all-time meeting between the Gaels and Red Wolves.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS
Currently in their first year in the NCAA DII rankings after making the transition from the NAIA, UC Merced will trek up to Moraga for what will go down as an exhibition contest on their schedule, but a countable game for the Gaels. The Bobcats dropped the DII opener to Northwest Nazarene 91-67, and will take on Pacific Union College and Fresno Pacific this week before making their way to UCU Pavilion. First year Head Coach Gary Steward has held college basketball head coaching ranks since the 1987-88 season, and now will help to get the Bobcats rolling in the DII rankings. In their lone contest this year, the Bobcats were led by big man Elijah Charles, as the former South Carolina State man dropped 16 on 6-9 shooting from the field. This will also be the first ever meeting between the Gaels and Bobcats.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves
Wednesday, November 19 at 7 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. UC Merced Bobcats
Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
DEFENDING HOME COURT
The Gaels have won four straight at home to open the 2025-26 campaign. That comes on the back of nine straight wins at home to close out the 2024-25 season, bringing the Gaels to 13 wins in a row at home. That matches the Gaels eighth longest home winning streak in program history, matching the feat they accomplished in the 2012-13 season when they won their first 13 straight at home. The program's longest home winning ranged across three seasons, when the Gaels won 23 in a row inside UCU Pavilion ranging from the 2020-21 season to the 2022-23 campaign.
STAYING HOT FROM THE STRIPE
The Gaels have been nearly automatic from the free throw line this year, shooting at an 83.5% clip. Neither Joshua Dent nor Mikey Lewis have missed a free throw attempt this year, with Lewis sitting at 21-for-21, and Dent not far behind at 13-for-13. Liam Campbell rounds out the group of perfect free throw shooters, knocking down his lone attempt. These numbers are even more impressive when figuring that the Gaels shot just 69.5% from the stripe last year. The best free throw percentage from a team in program history came in the 2017-18 season, when the Gaels shot 76.9%. While it is still early, this year's squad could challenge that record, as they already have broken the consecutive free throw make record, knocking down 30 in a row between their St. Thomas and Chattanooga contests.
ABOUT THE RED WOLVES
Under the first year direction of Head Coach Ryan Pannone, Arkansas State is off to an early 3-1 start, playing three of their first four contests away from the Gem State. Coach Pannone took over this season for Bryan Hodgson, who led the Red Wolves to back-to-back 20+ win seasons for the first time since the late 1980s and departed for South Florida. With a completely new roster from last year's squad, Coach Pannone's team was still picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll, after being one of four teams to share the Sun Belt Regular Season Title a year ago. Of this new cast of characters, the Red Wolves, the biggest impact player thus far has been point guard Chandler Jackson. The former three year Florida State Seminole has been solid for the Red Wolves, averaging 15 points and four assists per contest, including 33 points in a win over Missouri State, and seven assists in their most recent win over Christian Brothers. Led by Jackson, the Red Wolves are scoring a stellar 84 points per game, but have struggled defensively, allowing 82 per game. This will be the first all-time meeting between the Gaels and Red Wolves.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS
Currently in their first year in the NCAA DII rankings after making the transition from the NAIA, UC Merced will trek up to Moraga for what will go down as an exhibition contest on their schedule, but a countable game for the Gaels. The Bobcats dropped the DII opener to Northwest Nazarene 91-67, and will take on Pacific Union College and Fresno Pacific this week before making their way to UCU Pavilion. First year Head Coach Gary Steward has held college basketball head coaching ranks since the 1987-88 season, and now will help to get the Bobcats rolling in the DII rankings. In their lone contest this year, the Bobcats were led by big man Elijah Charles, as the former South Carolina State man dropped 16 on 6-9 shooting from the field. This will also be the first ever meeting between the Gaels and Bobcats.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
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