Friday, November 7
Moraga, CA
7:30 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
2-0,0-0WCC
87
vs
66
Chattanooga
1-1,0-0SoCon
1
2
F
Chattanooga
33
33
66
Saint Mary's (CA)
48
39
87
Andrew McKeever: 16 points (Career-High), 7-8 FG, 8 rebounds
Photo by: Ayanna Williams/SMC Athletics
MBB | Offense Continues to Roll in 87-66 Win Over Defending NIT Champs Chattanooga
11/7/2025 11:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — After a strong performance on opening night against St. Thomas, the Saint Mary's Gaels had another top tier mid-major program come to town, as the Chattanooga Mocs, riding the nation's longest active winning streak, made the trek from Tennessee to Moraga. While Chattanooga became synonymous with efficient, fast paced offense a year ago on their NIT title run, it was the Gaels who set the tone offensively this evening, shooting 50% or better from both the field and three en route to their second 85+ scoring outing in as many contests on the young season.
The Gaels put on an offensive clinic in the first half, scoring 48 points on 57% shooting from the field. After a slow opening 4:30 that saw both teams knotted up at six apiece, the Gaels would go on a 6-0 over the next minute and never look back. The lead would be extended out to as large as 18 points before eventually seeing it settle at 15 points, with the score sitting at 48-33 at the halftime break. Mikey Lewis led the offensive barrage with 17 first half points, drawing five fouls and converting all seven of his free throw attempts. Andrew McKeever played 19 minutes in the opening frame, surpassing his previous career-high of 10 with 14 in the first half alone, going a perfect 6-6 from the field, while Paulius Murauskas added 12 and a team-high five boards. The Gaels hot shooting also translated to the free throw line, as SMC would convert on all 13 free throw attempts, making 23 straight dating back to the St. Thomas matchup on Monday evening.
If the offense was good in half one, it was great in half two, as the Gaels shot 59% from the field and 71% from three, as the Mocs never got closer than 11 in the second half. Saint Mary's eventually walked away with a 87-66 victory. Just like the first half, it was the MIkey Lewis show in the second frame, scoring a team-high 11, while Paulius Murauskas joined him in double figures in both halves with 10 points on a perfect 3-3 clip from the field. Defensively, the Gaels perimeter defense was much improved in the second half, as after allowing five made triples in the opening stanza, the Gaels limited the Mocs to just two made threes in the second. The free throw shooting precision continued into the second half for Saint Mary's as the Gaels connected on their first seven of the second half to make it 30 straight, dating back to their last matchup, a new program record for consecutive free throws made.
After matching his career-high of 23 points in the season-opener, Mikey Lewis smashed that number with 28 tonight against Chattanooga. The sophomore shooting guard also set career-highs with 10 made free throws, five assists and 32 minutes played. Paulius Murauskas added 21 and was extremely efficient again, shooting 7-9 from the field, while finishing tied for the team-lead with eight rebounds, while dishing out five dimes for the second straight contest. The Lithuanian native has now opened his season 12-19 for the field for a stellar 63% field goal clip. Arguably the biggest impact player for the Gaels this evening was Andrew McKeever. Making his first start of the season as the Gaels only active center in the absence of Harry Wessels, McKeever dropped a career-high 16 points on 7-8 shooting, and finished tied with Murauskas for the team lead with eight boards. The big man played more minutes than any other Gaels finished the night just shy of 36 minutes played, giving Saint Mary's exactly what they needed in Wessels' absence. The Gaels went for an incredible 58% from the field, 50% from three and 93% from the stripe, the first time going 50/50/90 since their win over Northern Kentucky in late 2023.
EFFICIENT AS EVER
The hoop looked a little extra wide for the Gaels tonight, who shot 50%+ from both the field and from three, while shooting better than 90% from the stripe, helping to their hefty 87 point tally this evening. Andrew McKeever led the way by shooting 7-8 from the field and 2-2 from the stripe, leading a group of five total Gaels who shot 50% or better from the field, from three and 90% or better from the free throw line. Over the last decade, the Gaels accomplished the 50/50/90 game just two other times, most recently against Northern Kentucky on 12/21/23 and further back against Alabama Birmingham on 11/27/25.
A NEW PROGRAM RECORD
The Gaels made their final 10 free throws in their opening night contest against St. Thomas, and followed that up by making their first 20 tonight. The 30 consecutive makes breaks a record that has stood for 45 years for most consecutive made free throws made by a Saint Mary's team, as the Gaels made 26 in a row over a two game stretch against USF and Gonzaga in January of 1980. Mikey Lewis made all 10 of his attempts, as he is perfect through his first 15 tries, Joshua Dent, Dillan Shaw and Andrew McKeever were all also perfect for the game and remained perfect for the season.
RISING TO THE OCCASION
With Harry Wessels unavailable tonight, Andrew McKeever was going to be leaned on heavily by the Gaels as their only active center. The redshirt sophomore answered the bell. Not only did McKeever set a new career-high in minutes played, but he led all Gaels playing in almost 36 of the 40 minutes tonight. The big man was 7-8 from the field, en route to a new career-high scoring tally (16 points) and led the team with eight boards. While McKeever played limited minutes as a redshirt freshman a year ago, the 7-2 big man looks primed and ready for a breakout sophomore season.
COACHES CORNER
UP NEXT
The Gaels will next welcome in the Bobcats of Ohio University on Tuesday, November 11. Tip off is set for 7 PM inside UCU Pavilion.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
The Gaels put on an offensive clinic in the first half, scoring 48 points on 57% shooting from the field. After a slow opening 4:30 that saw both teams knotted up at six apiece, the Gaels would go on a 6-0 over the next minute and never look back. The lead would be extended out to as large as 18 points before eventually seeing it settle at 15 points, with the score sitting at 48-33 at the halftime break. Mikey Lewis led the offensive barrage with 17 first half points, drawing five fouls and converting all seven of his free throw attempts. Andrew McKeever played 19 minutes in the opening frame, surpassing his previous career-high of 10 with 14 in the first half alone, going a perfect 6-6 from the field, while Paulius Murauskas added 12 and a team-high five boards. The Gaels hot shooting also translated to the free throw line, as SMC would convert on all 13 free throw attempts, making 23 straight dating back to the St. Thomas matchup on Monday evening.
Andrew McKeever goes back 2 back with buckets to start the game‼️#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/CNrvmrcALJ
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 8, 2025
Mikey Lewis AND1 🗣️🗣️#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/0tBMIOyq9g
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 8, 2025
MIKEY LEWIS CANNOT BE STOPPED‼️#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/PUAEpQik2b
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 8, 2025
MIKEY LEWIS SENDS 'EM TO TIMEOUT 🗣️😤#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/oSxTNwwoqa
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 8, 2025
Big Man McKeever getting creative 🎨#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/IuVklhb947
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 8, 2025
If the offense was good in half one, it was great in half two, as the Gaels shot 59% from the field and 71% from three, as the Mocs never got closer than 11 in the second half. Saint Mary's eventually walked away with a 87-66 victory. Just like the first half, it was the MIkey Lewis show in the second frame, scoring a team-high 11, while Paulius Murauskas joined him in double figures in both halves with 10 points on a perfect 3-3 clip from the field. Defensively, the Gaels perimeter defense was much improved in the second half, as after allowing five made triples in the opening stanza, the Gaels limited the Mocs to just two made threes in the second. The free throw shooting precision continued into the second half for Saint Mary's as the Gaels connected on their first seven of the second half to make it 30 straight, dating back to their last matchup, a new program record for consecutive free throws made.
MIKEY LEWIS OH MY GOD‼️
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 8, 2025
With this three, Mikey Lewis ties his career high in points at 23 🔥#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/qJwB1XABcb
Can't stop, won't stop 🙂↔️
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 8, 2025
With this three, Mikey Lewis has a new career high at 26 points 🥳#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/lfqGtSd9h4
AND-1 PAULIUS MURAUSKAS‼️#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/bkJQljbo7v
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) November 8, 2025
After matching his career-high of 23 points in the season-opener, Mikey Lewis smashed that number with 28 tonight against Chattanooga. The sophomore shooting guard also set career-highs with 10 made free throws, five assists and 32 minutes played. Paulius Murauskas added 21 and was extremely efficient again, shooting 7-9 from the field, while finishing tied for the team-lead with eight rebounds, while dishing out five dimes for the second straight contest. The Lithuanian native has now opened his season 12-19 for the field for a stellar 63% field goal clip. Arguably the biggest impact player for the Gaels this evening was Andrew McKeever. Making his first start of the season as the Gaels only active center in the absence of Harry Wessels, McKeever dropped a career-high 16 points on 7-8 shooting, and finished tied with Murauskas for the team lead with eight boards. The big man played more minutes than any other Gaels finished the night just shy of 36 minutes played, giving Saint Mary's exactly what they needed in Wessels' absence. The Gaels went for an incredible 58% from the field, 50% from three and 93% from the stripe, the first time going 50/50/90 since their win over Northern Kentucky in late 2023.
EFFICIENT AS EVER
The hoop looked a little extra wide for the Gaels tonight, who shot 50%+ from both the field and from three, while shooting better than 90% from the stripe, helping to their hefty 87 point tally this evening. Andrew McKeever led the way by shooting 7-8 from the field and 2-2 from the stripe, leading a group of five total Gaels who shot 50% or better from the field, from three and 90% or better from the free throw line. Over the last decade, the Gaels accomplished the 50/50/90 game just two other times, most recently against Northern Kentucky on 12/21/23 and further back against Alabama Birmingham on 11/27/25.
A NEW PROGRAM RECORD
The Gaels made their final 10 free throws in their opening night contest against St. Thomas, and followed that up by making their first 20 tonight. The 30 consecutive makes breaks a record that has stood for 45 years for most consecutive made free throws made by a Saint Mary's team, as the Gaels made 26 in a row over a two game stretch against USF and Gonzaga in January of 1980. Mikey Lewis made all 10 of his attempts, as he is perfect through his first 15 tries, Joshua Dent, Dillan Shaw and Andrew McKeever were all also perfect for the game and remained perfect for the season.
RISING TO THE OCCASION
With Harry Wessels unavailable tonight, Andrew McKeever was going to be leaned on heavily by the Gaels as their only active center. The redshirt sophomore answered the bell. Not only did McKeever set a new career-high in minutes played, but he led all Gaels playing in almost 36 of the 40 minutes tonight. The big man was 7-8 from the field, en route to a new career-high scoring tally (16 points) and led the team with eight boards. While McKeever played limited minutes as a redshirt freshman a year ago, the 7-2 big man looks primed and ready for a breakout sophomore season.
COACHES CORNER
UP NEXT
The Gaels will next welcome in the Bobcats of Ohio University on Tuesday, November 11. Tip off is set for 7 PM inside UCU Pavilion.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
UTC
SMC
FG%
.423
.578
3FG%
.333
.500
FT%
.789
.931
RB
21
31
TO
13
14
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
10
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballMBB | Highlights vs. Chattanooga, 11-7-25
Friday, November 07
MBB | Randy Bennett Postgame Presser vs. Chattanooga, presented by University Credit Union
Friday, November 07
MBB | Highlights vs. St. Thomas, 11-3-25
Monday, November 03
MBB | Randy Bennett Postgame Press Availability vs. St. Thomas, Presented by University Credit Union
Monday, November 03
