Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Shaw Captures First Career WCC Freshman of the Week Honor
12/29/2025 12:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — West Coast Conference play is now underway, and after a huge showing in his WCC debut, Saint Mary's true freshman Dillan Shaw has earned his first career WCC Freshman of the Week nod. Making his second and third collegiate starts against Northern Iowa and LMU this week, Shaw played a key role in both of the Gaels tight victories over the Panthers and Lions. He joins redshirt freshman Liam Campbell as the second Gael to win this honor, making this the second straight year that the Gaels have had two win this award in the same season (Mikey Lewis and Andrew McKeever).
Shaw became just the 19th true freshman under Head Coach Randy Bennett's tutelage to start a game for the Gaels two weeks, and this week, demonstrated why he will be a mainstay in the lineup for the foreseeable future. To open the week against Northern Iowa, Shaw was called upon to play a physical, gritty, defensive role, matched up with the Panther's leading scorer and rebounder, Leon Bond III. The freshmen held his cover to just 10 points and five boards, both below his season average, while ripping down a team high nine rebounds (five offensive), and recording a pair of blocks and a pair of steals himself.
While it was all about the defense against UNI, Shaw's role flipped to offense against LMU, as the SoCal native, playing in front of countless family members and friends on the road, dropped a career-high 18, shooting 6-10 from the field and 4-7 from three. Two of Shaw's four three pointers pushed the Gaels from either tied or behind, to ahead; one to start the second half and break a 33-all stalemate and one to push the Gaels ahead 62-61 with 4:26 left to play. As if the scoring effort wasn't enough, Shaw also had the assist on Rory Hawke's go-ahead three pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining, and knocked down a pair of free throws on the ensuing Gaels possession to ice the game. 16 of Shaw's 18 points were scored in the second half, as the Gaels overcame blow after blow thrown by the Lions to earn their fourth straight WCC opener victory.
Shaw and the Gaels will have one more game in Southern California this roadtrip, taking on Pepperdine on Tuesday, December 30 at 6 PM.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Shaw became just the 19th true freshman under Head Coach Randy Bennett's tutelage to start a game for the Gaels two weeks, and this week, demonstrated why he will be a mainstay in the lineup for the foreseeable future. To open the week against Northern Iowa, Shaw was called upon to play a physical, gritty, defensive role, matched up with the Panther's leading scorer and rebounder, Leon Bond III. The freshmen held his cover to just 10 points and five boards, both below his season average, while ripping down a team high nine rebounds (five offensive), and recording a pair of blocks and a pair of steals himself.
While it was all about the defense against UNI, Shaw's role flipped to offense against LMU, as the SoCal native, playing in front of countless family members and friends on the road, dropped a career-high 18, shooting 6-10 from the field and 4-7 from three. Two of Shaw's four three pointers pushed the Gaels from either tied or behind, to ahead; one to start the second half and break a 33-all stalemate and one to push the Gaels ahead 62-61 with 4:26 left to play. As if the scoring effort wasn't enough, Shaw also had the assist on Rory Hawke's go-ahead three pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining, and knocked down a pair of free throws on the ensuing Gaels possession to ice the game. 16 of Shaw's 18 points were scored in the second half, as the Gaels overcame blow after blow thrown by the Lions to earn their fourth straight WCC opener victory.
Shaw and the Gaels will have one more game in Southern California this roadtrip, taking on Pepperdine on Tuesday, December 30 at 6 PM.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
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