Wednesday, November 26
Paradise Island, Bahamas
4:30 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
Wichita State
The physical play of Paulius Murauskas has gotten him to the free throw line 45 times this season
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Gaels Bring Unbeaten Record into the Battle 4 Atlantis
11/24/2025 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — It is safe to say that the Saint Mary's Gaels (6-0) could not have asked for a better start to the 2025-26 campaign. They are unbeaten through their first six for the second straight year, and now turn their focus to their Multi-Team Event (MTE), the Battle 4 Atlantis, where they will encounter Wichita State (4-1) in the opening round before questing through the rest of the field in the "three game in three day" gauntlet.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Wichita State Shockers
Wednesday, November 26 at 7:30 PM EST / 4:30 PM PST
Imperial Arena – Paradise Island, Bahamas
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Colorado State Rams -OR- Virginia Tech Hokies
Thursday, November 27 at 2:30 PM EST / 11:30 AM PST -OR- 8:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM PST
Imperial Arena – Paradise Island, Bahamas
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Day Three Opponent (Western Kentucky / Vanderbilt / South Florida / VCU)
Friday, November 28 at TBA
WATCH | LIVE STATS
THE BLAZING HOT START CONTINUES
The Gaels have jumped out to their second straight unbeaten (6-0) start heading into their annual MTE. A year ago, the Gaels unbeaten streak would come to an end after a 7-0 start, falling in the Acrisure Classic Championship Game to Arizona State. If the Gaels can get to 7-0 with a win over Wichita State, it would be their eighth 7-0 start in program history. The longest winning streak by the Gaels to open a season is nine straight, done both in 2013-14 and in 1988-89.
EARLY WCC LEADERS
To start the 2025-26 season, the Gaels are currently leading the WCC in a bevy of statistical categories, while they have more than a few individuals also topping the stat charts. As a team, the Gaels lead their conference in three point percentage, rebounding margin and fewest fouls committed. While rebounding margin comes as no surprise, with the Gaels leading the country in that stat a year ago, three point percentage has given the offense a huge boost, as SMC ranked ninth in the 11 team WCC in that category last season. Individually, Joshua Dent leads the conference, and country (tied with 20 others) with a perfect free throw clip, Paulius Murauskas has been to the stripe 45 times, more than any other WCC player, Mikey Lewis leads the conference with 118 points scored, and Andrew McKeever has set the tone on the glass with 63 total rebounds, averaging 4.67 offensive and 10.5 total boards per game, all conference high marks.
ABOUT THE SHOCKERS
Winners of four of their first five, the Wichita State Shockers will be the Gaels first test in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Led by third year Head Coach Paul Mills, the Shockers saw a four win increase from year one to year two, and will now look to do the same in year three, hoping for their first 20+ win season since the 2019-20 campaign. So far this year, the Shockers have won all four of matchups at home, but fell in their only contest away from Charles Koch Arena to Boise State, who the Gaels will see later this year. Defensively, Wichita State has made life tough on their opponents in the early goings, holding them to just a 37.5% shooting clip, while on offense, they take care of the basketball extremely well, turning it over just nine times per contest. Kenyon Giles has been the team's go-to scorer, averaging 19.6 points per game and shooting 58.8% from beyond the arc. This will be the second ever meeting between the Gaels and Shockers with the first coming way back in 1959, a 74-58 victory for the Shockers in Wichita.
ABOUT THE RAMS AND HOKIES
Day two of the tournament will see the Gaels take on either Colorado State or Virginia Tech. The Rams of Colorado State had the second furthest distance of travel to the Bahamas, behind only the Gaels, and bring a 4-1 record into the event after being upset by Denver on Friday evening. That was the first loss in the tenure of Head Coach Ali Farokhmanesh, who took over after Niko Medved departed for Minnesota. Since Coach Farokhmanesh took the helm, the Rams have never scored fewer than 80 points in a game, due in large part to the fact that they are currently averaging more than 12 three pointers made per game. Colorado State leads the all-time series 4-3. Virginia Tech is unbeaten in their first five, and are looking for their first 6-0 start since year one under Head Coach Mike Young in 2019-20. Like Colorado State, Virginia Tech does not turn the ball over much, coughing it up just 8.2 times per game. Big man Tobi Lawal has been the biggest impact player for the Hokies this year, averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds per game. The Gaels and Hokies have never met in a regulation contest.
ABOUT THE REST OF THE FIELD
The final day of the Battle 4 Atlantis could see the Gaels play any of the following four programs: Western Kentucky (4-0), Vanderbilt (5-0), South Florida (3-2) or VCU (3-2). Second year Head Coach Hank Plona has the WKU Hilltoppers off to their best start since 2019-20, led by big bodied, physical guard Teagan Moore (18 PPG 6 RPG). WKU is 2-1 all-time vs the Gaels. Vandy is also unbeaten to start the year, with their last loss coming at the hands of the Gaels in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. After an NCAA Tournament in his first season at the helm, Head Coach Mark Byington looks like he has his team in early form to be back there this upcoming March with his team averaging 103 points per game to lead the country. The Commodores lead the all-time series 3-2. The Bulls of South Florida also have a high powered offense, scoring 100 points per game, but sit at 3-2, with a pair of tight shoot-out losses to Oklahoma State and George Washington. First year Head Coach Bryan Hodgson is trying to right the ship after the Bulls went just 13-19 last year, and seems to have his team trending in the right direction, with Robert Morris transfer Josh Omojafo (18 PPG 6 RPG) doing a lot of the heavy lifting. In just one meeting, the Gaels are 1-0 against the Bulls. Rounding out the field is VCU. The Rams (of VCU) have two tight losses to Utah State and North Carolina State sandwiched by three blowout wins over Wagner, Saint Peters and Coppin State. After two stellar seasons at Bryant, Phil Martelli Jr was named the Head Coach at VCU after Ryan Odom left for Virginia. Led by Jadrian Tracey, the Rams have a well balanced attack, with five players averaging double-digits, and a sixth averaging 9.6. The Gaels are unbeaten in two prior meetings against VCU.
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THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Wichita State Shockers
Wednesday, November 26 at 7:30 PM EST / 4:30 PM PST
Imperial Arena – Paradise Island, Bahamas
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Colorado State Rams -OR- Virginia Tech Hokies
Thursday, November 27 at 2:30 PM EST / 11:30 AM PST -OR- 8:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM PST
Imperial Arena – Paradise Island, Bahamas
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Day Three Opponent (Western Kentucky / Vanderbilt / South Florida / VCU)
Friday, November 28 at TBA
WATCH | LIVE STATS
THE BLAZING HOT START CONTINUES
The Gaels have jumped out to their second straight unbeaten (6-0) start heading into their annual MTE. A year ago, the Gaels unbeaten streak would come to an end after a 7-0 start, falling in the Acrisure Classic Championship Game to Arizona State. If the Gaels can get to 7-0 with a win over Wichita State, it would be their eighth 7-0 start in program history. The longest winning streak by the Gaels to open a season is nine straight, done both in 2013-14 and in 1988-89.
EARLY WCC LEADERS
To start the 2025-26 season, the Gaels are currently leading the WCC in a bevy of statistical categories, while they have more than a few individuals also topping the stat charts. As a team, the Gaels lead their conference in three point percentage, rebounding margin and fewest fouls committed. While rebounding margin comes as no surprise, with the Gaels leading the country in that stat a year ago, three point percentage has given the offense a huge boost, as SMC ranked ninth in the 11 team WCC in that category last season. Individually, Joshua Dent leads the conference, and country (tied with 20 others) with a perfect free throw clip, Paulius Murauskas has been to the stripe 45 times, more than any other WCC player, Mikey Lewis leads the conference with 118 points scored, and Andrew McKeever has set the tone on the glass with 63 total rebounds, averaging 4.67 offensive and 10.5 total boards per game, all conference high marks.
ABOUT THE SHOCKERS
Winners of four of their first five, the Wichita State Shockers will be the Gaels first test in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Led by third year Head Coach Paul Mills, the Shockers saw a four win increase from year one to year two, and will now look to do the same in year three, hoping for their first 20+ win season since the 2019-20 campaign. So far this year, the Shockers have won all four of matchups at home, but fell in their only contest away from Charles Koch Arena to Boise State, who the Gaels will see later this year. Defensively, Wichita State has made life tough on their opponents in the early goings, holding them to just a 37.5% shooting clip, while on offense, they take care of the basketball extremely well, turning it over just nine times per contest. Kenyon Giles has been the team's go-to scorer, averaging 19.6 points per game and shooting 58.8% from beyond the arc. This will be the second ever meeting between the Gaels and Shockers with the first coming way back in 1959, a 74-58 victory for the Shockers in Wichita.
ABOUT THE RAMS AND HOKIES
Day two of the tournament will see the Gaels take on either Colorado State or Virginia Tech. The Rams of Colorado State had the second furthest distance of travel to the Bahamas, behind only the Gaels, and bring a 4-1 record into the event after being upset by Denver on Friday evening. That was the first loss in the tenure of Head Coach Ali Farokhmanesh, who took over after Niko Medved departed for Minnesota. Since Coach Farokhmanesh took the helm, the Rams have never scored fewer than 80 points in a game, due in large part to the fact that they are currently averaging more than 12 three pointers made per game. Colorado State leads the all-time series 4-3. Virginia Tech is unbeaten in their first five, and are looking for their first 6-0 start since year one under Head Coach Mike Young in 2019-20. Like Colorado State, Virginia Tech does not turn the ball over much, coughing it up just 8.2 times per game. Big man Tobi Lawal has been the biggest impact player for the Hokies this year, averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds per game. The Gaels and Hokies have never met in a regulation contest.
ABOUT THE REST OF THE FIELD
The final day of the Battle 4 Atlantis could see the Gaels play any of the following four programs: Western Kentucky (4-0), Vanderbilt (5-0), South Florida (3-2) or VCU (3-2). Second year Head Coach Hank Plona has the WKU Hilltoppers off to their best start since 2019-20, led by big bodied, physical guard Teagan Moore (18 PPG 6 RPG). WKU is 2-1 all-time vs the Gaels. Vandy is also unbeaten to start the year, with their last loss coming at the hands of the Gaels in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. After an NCAA Tournament in his first season at the helm, Head Coach Mark Byington looks like he has his team in early form to be back there this upcoming March with his team averaging 103 points per game to lead the country. The Commodores lead the all-time series 3-2. The Bulls of South Florida also have a high powered offense, scoring 100 points per game, but sit at 3-2, with a pair of tight shoot-out losses to Oklahoma State and George Washington. First year Head Coach Bryan Hodgson is trying to right the ship after the Bulls went just 13-19 last year, and seems to have his team trending in the right direction, with Robert Morris transfer Josh Omojafo (18 PPG 6 RPG) doing a lot of the heavy lifting. In just one meeting, the Gaels are 1-0 against the Bulls. Rounding out the field is VCU. The Rams (of VCU) have two tight losses to Utah State and North Carolina State sandwiched by three blowout wins over Wagner, Saint Peters and Coppin State. After two stellar seasons at Bryant, Phil Martelli Jr was named the Head Coach at VCU after Ryan Odom left for Virginia. Led by Jadrian Tracey, the Rams have a well balanced attack, with five players averaging double-digits, and a sixth averaging 9.6. The Gaels are unbeaten in two prior meetings against VCU.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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