Sunday, December 28
Los Angeles, CA
4:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
at
LMU
Dillan Shaw became one of just 19 true freshmen to start for Head Coach Randy Bennett
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Gaels Open West Coast Conference Play on the Road at LMU and Pepperdine
12/24/2025 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — After a successful 11-2 non-conference slate to open the year, the Saint Mary's Gaels now shift their focus to WCC play, as they open their conference schedule on the road, taking on LMU (9-4) on December 28 and Pepperdine (5-8) on December 30. The Gaels are 19-1 in true road contests dating back to the 2023-24 campaign, and look to keep the title of "road warriors" in 2025-26.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at LMU Lions
Sunday, December 28 at 4 PM
Gersten Pavilion – Los Angeles, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Pepperdine Waves
Tuesday, December 30 at 6 PM
Firestone Fieldhouse – Malibu, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
NON-CON IN REVIEW
The Gaels put together a solid non-conference showing in the lead into WCC play, going 11-2, including four quad two victories. Saint Mary's opened the year a perfect 8-0, their best start since 2013-14, with signature wins over Wichita State and Virginia Tech in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Their first stumble came against Vanderbilt, a team that is still undefeated heading into the final week of 2025, in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship, but SMC responded with a win in their lone true road contest of non-con, going to Davidson, N.C. and knocking off the Wildcats. Finishing off a stretch of five straight contests away from UCU Pavilion, the Gaels fell in a narrow, one point contest in Idaho Falls to Boise State, but closed out the non-con slate on a high with a pair of wins at home against Florida Atlantic and Northern Iowa. The 11 wins in non-conference play mark the most for the Gaels since 2022-23, while the two losses are the fewest since 2020-21. Throughout the non-conference slate, the Gaels have received votes in at least one of the AP or Coaches Polls every single week, and are currently ranked fourth in the College Insider Mid-Major Top-25, 27th in the Net, 29th in Bart Torvik and 33rd in KenPom. Their 4-2 record against quad one and two opponents in non-con play also matches their best non-con start since 2022-23.
A STAR ON THE RISE
In 25 seasons at the helm of the Saint Mary's Men's Basketball program, Head Coach Randy Bennett has started just 19 true freshmen during his tenure. On December 19, 2025, Dillan Shaw joined that list of young upstart Gael starters, drawing his first collegiate start against Florida Atlantic. Shaw joins a list that includes program standouts Daniel Kickert, Diamon Simpson, Omar Samhan, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and Augustas Marciulionis. Hailing from Northridge, California, and ranked as the highest ever recruit to sign with Saint Mary's (89th in the CO '25 according to 247Sports), Shaw has done a bit of everything for the Gaels, averaging 6 PPG and 5 RPG (most of any Gael Guard), while tallying 13 assists, 14 steals and eight blocks.
ABOUT THE LIONS
LMU got off to a stellar start, winning each of their first six contests for just the third time in program history. Since, however, they have cooled off a bit, winning just three of their next seven to close out non-conference play at 9-4. The 9-4 start does match the best start through 13 contests for the Lions under the guidance of sixth year Head Coach Stan Johnson, who guided his team to an 11-4 start in 2022-23. After finishing tied for sixth in the WCC last year, the Lions were picked to finish seventh in this year's preseason poll, but have their sights set on a higher finish. Defense has been the calling card for this year's LMU squad thus far, limiting opponents to 66.1PPG, 38.6% from the field and 29.3% from three. Big man Rick Issanza has had a major hand in that, averaging nearly two blocks per contest, and altering numerous other shots in close. Offensively, the Lions shoot a hefty amount of threes, with the top two shooters in the conference, Myron Amey Jr and Rodney Brown Jr, on their roster. This meeting will be the 160th all-time between the Gaels and Lions, with the Gaels having won 104 of the previous 159. In recent history, LMU has defeated Saint Mary's just once since 2013.
ABOUT THE WAVES
After going 5-8 in non-conference play, the Pepperdine Waves received the toughest assignment of any WCC school to open up their conference slate, a pair of contests against Gonzaga and Saint Mary's. This, however, is not unfamiliar territory for second year Head Coach Ed Schilling, who saw the Zags and Gaels in games two and three of the WCC slate a year ago. The Gaels saw the Waves three times last season including in the WCC Tournament Semifinals, but Pepperdine returned just one key player from that roster, so this will be a completely new team for Saint Mary's to scout. The Waves have a quartet of double-digit scorers that help make-up their near 75 PPG scoring offense, and are led by redshirt sophomore Aaron Clark. After playing his freshman season at Wake Forest, Clark missed all of last year for the Waves, but now has come on to be a star for Coach Schilling, averaging nearly 15 points per contest, including three 25+ point scoring outings. Fellow sophomore Styles Phipps has been equally as impressive, averaging 12 points per game and leading the team averaging six rebounds and six assists per contest. Saint Mary's and Pepperdine have squared off 156 times in program history, with the Gaels holding a narrow 82-74 lead in the series. The Gaels have dominated the series recently, winning 12 of their last 13 meetings.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at LMU Lions
Sunday, December 28 at 4 PM
Gersten Pavilion – Los Angeles, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Pepperdine Waves
Tuesday, December 30 at 6 PM
Firestone Fieldhouse – Malibu, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
NON-CON IN REVIEW
The Gaels put together a solid non-conference showing in the lead into WCC play, going 11-2, including four quad two victories. Saint Mary's opened the year a perfect 8-0, their best start since 2013-14, with signature wins over Wichita State and Virginia Tech in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Their first stumble came against Vanderbilt, a team that is still undefeated heading into the final week of 2025, in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship, but SMC responded with a win in their lone true road contest of non-con, going to Davidson, N.C. and knocking off the Wildcats. Finishing off a stretch of five straight contests away from UCU Pavilion, the Gaels fell in a narrow, one point contest in Idaho Falls to Boise State, but closed out the non-con slate on a high with a pair of wins at home against Florida Atlantic and Northern Iowa. The 11 wins in non-conference play mark the most for the Gaels since 2022-23, while the two losses are the fewest since 2020-21. Throughout the non-conference slate, the Gaels have received votes in at least one of the AP or Coaches Polls every single week, and are currently ranked fourth in the College Insider Mid-Major Top-25, 27th in the Net, 29th in Bart Torvik and 33rd in KenPom. Their 4-2 record against quad one and two opponents in non-con play also matches their best non-con start since 2022-23.
A STAR ON THE RISE
In 25 seasons at the helm of the Saint Mary's Men's Basketball program, Head Coach Randy Bennett has started just 19 true freshmen during his tenure. On December 19, 2025, Dillan Shaw joined that list of young upstart Gael starters, drawing his first collegiate start against Florida Atlantic. Shaw joins a list that includes program standouts Daniel Kickert, Diamon Simpson, Omar Samhan, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and Augustas Marciulionis. Hailing from Northridge, California, and ranked as the highest ever recruit to sign with Saint Mary's (89th in the CO '25 according to 247Sports), Shaw has done a bit of everything for the Gaels, averaging 6 PPG and 5 RPG (most of any Gael Guard), while tallying 13 assists, 14 steals and eight blocks.
ABOUT THE LIONS
LMU got off to a stellar start, winning each of their first six contests for just the third time in program history. Since, however, they have cooled off a bit, winning just three of their next seven to close out non-conference play at 9-4. The 9-4 start does match the best start through 13 contests for the Lions under the guidance of sixth year Head Coach Stan Johnson, who guided his team to an 11-4 start in 2022-23. After finishing tied for sixth in the WCC last year, the Lions were picked to finish seventh in this year's preseason poll, but have their sights set on a higher finish. Defense has been the calling card for this year's LMU squad thus far, limiting opponents to 66.1PPG, 38.6% from the field and 29.3% from three. Big man Rick Issanza has had a major hand in that, averaging nearly two blocks per contest, and altering numerous other shots in close. Offensively, the Lions shoot a hefty amount of threes, with the top two shooters in the conference, Myron Amey Jr and Rodney Brown Jr, on their roster. This meeting will be the 160th all-time between the Gaels and Lions, with the Gaels having won 104 of the previous 159. In recent history, LMU has defeated Saint Mary's just once since 2013.
ABOUT THE WAVES
After going 5-8 in non-conference play, the Pepperdine Waves received the toughest assignment of any WCC school to open up their conference slate, a pair of contests against Gonzaga and Saint Mary's. This, however, is not unfamiliar territory for second year Head Coach Ed Schilling, who saw the Zags and Gaels in games two and three of the WCC slate a year ago. The Gaels saw the Waves three times last season including in the WCC Tournament Semifinals, but Pepperdine returned just one key player from that roster, so this will be a completely new team for Saint Mary's to scout. The Waves have a quartet of double-digit scorers that help make-up their near 75 PPG scoring offense, and are led by redshirt sophomore Aaron Clark. After playing his freshman season at Wake Forest, Clark missed all of last year for the Waves, but now has come on to be a star for Coach Schilling, averaging nearly 15 points per contest, including three 25+ point scoring outings. Fellow sophomore Styles Phipps has been equally as impressive, averaging 12 points per game and leading the team averaging six rebounds and six assists per contest. Saint Mary's and Pepperdine have squared off 156 times in program history, with the Gaels holding a narrow 82-74 lead in the series. The Gaels have dominated the series recently, winning 12 of their last 13 meetings.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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