Monday, November 3
Moraga, CA
7:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
1-0,0-0WCC
84
vs
58
St. Thomas
0-1,0-0Summit League
1
2
F
St. Thomas (MN)
25
33
58
Saint Mary's (CA)
35
49
84
Joshua Dent: 18 pts, 6 ast, 3 stls, 0 to
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Gaels Knock Down 11 Threes, Hold St. Thomas Below 60 in Statement Season Opener
11/3/2025 10:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — Looking at the 2025-26 non-conference men's basketball schedule for Saint Mary's (1-0), the Gaels may not have chosen the flashiest names to play, but rather loaded up with a gauntlet of mid-major powers. The first on the docket was the St. Thomas Tommies (0-1), a team picked to win the Summit League, after winning 24 games a year ago. The Tommies hung around with the Gaels through most of the first half, but a late surge for Saint Mary's heading into the halftime break would give them a double-digit lead that they would never relinquish, downing St. Thomas 84-58. This was the first time that the Gaels scored 80+ in a season-opener against a DI opponent since 2021 when they did so against Prairie View A&M, and was the first time St. Thomas has been held under 60 points in a game since the 2023-24 campaign.
Despite playing in hostile territory, the Tommies came out the gates hot playing with a high level of intensity to hang tight with the Gaels. Through the first 19 minutes of the first half, the Gaels never led by more than five points, but over the final minute of the half, Saint Mary's closed out the frame on an 8-0 run, taking a 35-25 lead into the break. Punctuating the half with an exclamation point, Paulius Murauskas picked up a steal in what could of been the final possession for the half for the Tommies, then, from his backside, through a halfcourt pass to Dillan Shaw who slammed the ball home at the buzzer for his first collegiate bucket. Mikey Lewis led all scorers at the break, dropping 14 points on 5-7 shooting from the field, and a 3-4 clip from three. Neither Murauskas nor point guard Joshua Dent left the floor in the first half, with the two combining for seven assists, no turnovers and four steals. The Gaels were able to get a +5 advantage on the offensive, with Andrew McKeever ripping down all five of his boards on the offensive side, leading to a 7-0 second chance scoring discrepancy in favor of the Gaels.
The momentum from the final minute of the first half poured into the second, as the Gaels began the second half with a 19-8 run to extend their lead out to 21. That lead would balloon to as large as 27 at 80-53 with just under three minutes remaining, and would eventually settle at 26, as the Tommies never got closer than 19 points over the final 15:25 of the game. After a first half of being a playmaker, Joshua Dent called his own number a bit more in the second half, dropping 14 points, including a perfect 2-2 clip from beyond the arc, and 6-6 line from the stripe. Paulius Muruaskas added 11 in the second half, missing just one shot from the field, while also pulling down five rebounds. It was hard to find flaws in the Saint Mary's second half offense, who shot 8-11 from inside the arc, 7-12 from beyond the arc and 12-14 from the free throw line, as they pulled away from the Tommies.
Mikey Lewis finished the game with 23 points, matching his career-high set in non-conference play vs. Nebraska last season. Lewis went 7-11 from the field, and converted on 4-7 three point attempts, looking comfortable as the Gaels primary bucket getter when called upon. Fellow sophomore Joshua Dent also earned his first start, and finished with 18 points, to go along with six assists, three steals and no turnovers, leaving no question as who would be next in a line of strong Gaels point guards. Paulius Murauskas rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Gaels, with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and no turnovers, a stat-sheet stuffing day for the Lithuanian power forward. The only player to record more rebounds than Murauskas was Andrew McKeever, who reeled in 10 off the bench, his first career double digit rebounding performance. Seven of his 10 boards were of the offensive variety, helping the Gaels to a +6 offensive rebounding advantage and a 10-0 second chance scoring lead.
YOU ASKED ABOUT OUR PG?
Heading into the season, one of the biggest questions was who would replace back-to-back West Coast Conference Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis at the point guard position. Joshua Dent answered that question resoundingly with his play tonight. The sophomore out of Wollongong, New South Wales only played 83 minutes all of last season, but you wouldn't have been able to tell the way he commanded the offense tonight. Half one was all about Dent's play-making and defensive abilities, as without leaving the floor, he dished out four assists without a turnover, has two steals, and limited his defensive assignments to just two points. In the second half, Dent got more comfortable with calling his own number, scoring 14 of his 18 total points, but picking up a pair of additional assists without a turnover. After scoring 14 points all of last season, Dent surpassed that in just one game this year, while also coming up just one assist shy of his season total from all of last season. Gaels and West Coast Conference hoops fans, get used to the name Joshua Dent!
KEEPING THEM IN CHECK
A season ago, St. Thomas averaged 83.1 points per game, good for 12th in the nation, and was held under 70 points just five times all year. The Tommies shot 38.7% from three (11th in the country), knocking down 10.4 triples per game on average (18th in the country). They returned just under 50% of their scoring from last season, and were picked to win the Summit League. That said, tonight, they ran into the buzz saw that is the Saint Mary's defense. The Gaels held the Tommies to just 58 points, their lowest tally since the 2023-24 campaign, and limited them to just five made threes, also their lowest mark since 23-24. The Gaels forced 10 St. Thomas turnovers, six of which were steals by Joshua Dent and Paulius Murauskas (three each), and turned those turnovers into 14 points en route to the victory.
COACHES CORNER
UP NEXT
The Gaels will welcome Chattanooga, the defending NIT Champs, back to Moraga for the second time in as many year on Friday, November 7. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Despite playing in hostile territory, the Tommies came out the gates hot playing with a high level of intensity to hang tight with the Gaels. Through the first 19 minutes of the first half, the Gaels never led by more than five points, but over the final minute of the half, Saint Mary's closed out the frame on an 8-0 run, taking a 35-25 lead into the break. Punctuating the half with an exclamation point, Paulius Murauskas picked up a steal in what could of been the final possession for the half for the Tommies, then, from his backside, through a halfcourt pass to Dillan Shaw who slammed the ball home at the buzzer for his first collegiate bucket. Mikey Lewis led all scorers at the break, dropping 14 points on 5-7 shooting from the field, and a 3-4 clip from three. Neither Murauskas nor point guard Joshua Dent left the floor in the first half, with the two combining for seven assists, no turnovers and four steals. The Gaels were able to get a +5 advantage on the offensive, with Andrew McKeever ripping down all five of his boards on the offensive side, leading to a 7-0 second chance scoring discrepancy in favor of the Gaels.
Who other than Mikey Lewis?#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/R7CFU672ck
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
7:48 | SMC 19 - STM 18
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
A scoop and a score, courtesy of Rory Hawke and Tony Duckett 🙂↕️#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/sKtAK2ZRTN
Firing on all cylinders 🔥#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/eRU8eUMbtl
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
Mikey Lewis can do it ALL #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/aci6xD5BlO
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
HALF | SMC 35 - STM 25
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
The energy in UCU us ELECTRIC as we head to the half⚡️⚡️
The Gaels are off to a HOT start, ending the half on an 8-0 run, led by Mikey Lewis with 14 points🔥
Stick around for the second half, coming soon!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/PIWKoqZSr3
The momentum from the final minute of the first half poured into the second, as the Gaels began the second half with a 19-8 run to extend their lead out to 21. That lead would balloon to as large as 27 at 80-53 with just under three minutes remaining, and would eventually settle at 26, as the Tommies never got closer than 19 points over the final 15:25 of the game. After a first half of being a playmaker, Joshua Dent called his own number a bit more in the second half, dropping 14 points, including a perfect 2-2 clip from beyond the arc, and 6-6 line from the stripe. Paulius Muruaskas added 11 in the second half, missing just one shot from the field, while also pulling down five rebounds. It was hard to find flaws in the Saint Mary's second half offense, who shot 8-11 from inside the arc, 7-12 from beyond the arc and 12-14 from the free throw line, as they pulled away from the Tommies.
Starting the second half with an AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE‼️#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/DwwyG53oDs
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
Murauskas for THREE!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/iLGe4G5LQT
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
16:27 | SMC 49- STM 31
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
Paulius sends the Tommies to a TO ⏰
The Gaels are off to a hot start this half, going 4-6 from beyond the arc 🔥 #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/HDDMZ7PNSP
Mikey Lewis finished the game with 23 points, matching his career-high set in non-conference play vs. Nebraska last season. Lewis went 7-11 from the field, and converted on 4-7 three point attempts, looking comfortable as the Gaels primary bucket getter when called upon. Fellow sophomore Joshua Dent also earned his first start, and finished with 18 points, to go along with six assists, three steals and no turnovers, leaving no question as who would be next in a line of strong Gaels point guards. Paulius Murauskas rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Gaels, with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and no turnovers, a stat-sheet stuffing day for the Lithuanian power forward. The only player to record more rebounds than Murauskas was Andrew McKeever, who reeled in 10 off the bench, his first career double digit rebounding performance. Seven of his 10 boards were of the offensive variety, helping the Gaels to a +6 offensive rebounding advantage and a 10-0 second chance scoring lead.
YOU ASKED ABOUT OUR PG?
Heading into the season, one of the biggest questions was who would replace back-to-back West Coast Conference Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis at the point guard position. Joshua Dent answered that question resoundingly with his play tonight. The sophomore out of Wollongong, New South Wales only played 83 minutes all of last season, but you wouldn't have been able to tell the way he commanded the offense tonight. Half one was all about Dent's play-making and defensive abilities, as without leaving the floor, he dished out four assists without a turnover, has two steals, and limited his defensive assignments to just two points. In the second half, Dent got more comfortable with calling his own number, scoring 14 of his 18 total points, but picking up a pair of additional assists without a turnover. After scoring 14 points all of last season, Dent surpassed that in just one game this year, while also coming up just one assist shy of his season total from all of last season. Gaels and West Coast Conference hoops fans, get used to the name Joshua Dent!
KEEPING THEM IN CHECK
A season ago, St. Thomas averaged 83.1 points per game, good for 12th in the nation, and was held under 70 points just five times all year. The Tommies shot 38.7% from three (11th in the country), knocking down 10.4 triples per game on average (18th in the country). They returned just under 50% of their scoring from last season, and were picked to win the Summit League. That said, tonight, they ran into the buzz saw that is the Saint Mary's defense. The Gaels held the Tommies to just 58 points, their lowest tally since the 2023-24 campaign, and limited them to just five made threes, also their lowest mark since 23-24. The Gaels forced 10 St. Thomas turnovers, six of which were steals by Joshua Dent and Paulius Murauskas (three each), and turned those turnovers into 14 points en route to the victory.
Not on Paulius' watch 🚫 😤#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/NqkziiGkiv
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 4, 2025
COACHES CORNER
UP NEXT
The Gaels will welcome Chattanooga, the defending NIT Champs, back to Moraga for the second time in as many year on Friday, November 7. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
UST
SMC
FG%
.472
.509
3FG%
.238
.423
FT%
.300
.789
RB
23
41
TO
10
11
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG/F
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