Friday, January 2
Moraga, CA
7:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
Portland
Andrew McKeever leads the WCC averaging 9.5 RPG
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Gaels Ring in 2026 with Home Matchups Against Portland and Seattle U
12/31/2025 12:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — After a perfect WCC start on the road, the Saint Mary's Gaels (13-2, 2-0 WCC) will open up the year 2026 at home, as they welcome in the Portland Pilots (7-8, 0-2 WCC) and the Seattle U Redhawks (12-3, 1-1 WCC) to UCU Pavilion in Moraga. Through just one week of conference play, only three WCC teams remain unblemished in their conference record, so the Gaels will look to separate early from the pack of the conference as they've done with frequency in recent history.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Portland Pilots
Friday, January 2 at 7 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Seattle U Redhawks
Sunday, January 4 at 6 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
AN IMPRESSIVE FEAT
Saint Mary's is one of just four teams in the country to have both their conference's leading scorer and rebounder on their roster this season, joining Fairfield out of the MAAC, Troy of the Sun Belt and preseason WAC favorite Cal Baptist. Averaging 18.3 points per game, Paulius Murauskas currently stands as the WCC's leading scorer, while Andrew McKeever, ripping down 9.5 boards per game, is the WCC's leading rebounder. Murauskas also leads the WCC in free throws made and attempted, while McKeever has seen his rebound total soar due to his efforts on the offensive glass, leading the WCC in that category as well.
MASTERS OF EFFICIENCY
Per KenPom, Saint Mary's is one of just 26 teams in the country, and one of just five non-power four schools, to rank in the top-50 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Joining the likes of Gonzaga, UConn, Villanova, St Johns and Utah State in the non-P-4 ranks, Saint Mary's eyes their fourth ever chance to finish a season in the top-50 in both offensive and defensive efficiecy under Coach Bennett's tutelage, also doing so in 2016-17, 2022-23 and 2023-24, all NCAA Tournament seasons.
ROAD WARRIORS
Since the 2022-23 campaign, the Saint Mary's Gaels boast an extremely impressive 27-3 (0.900) record in true road contests. In that time period, only Houston (28-3) has a better road record. In this stretch, the Gaels have enjoyed many quality wins away from the friendly confines, including wins over Colorado State in Fort Collins, Utah in Salt Lake City and twice over Gonzaga in Spokane. While it is a small sample size, the Gaels are shooting 50% from the field in their three road contests in 2025-26, and are averaging just nine turnovers per game on the road, both better than their season average.
ABOUT THE PILOTS
Picked to finish at the bottom of the West Coast Conference in the preseason polls, the Portland Pilots turned heads to start the year, opening up at 7-4, including a solid win against a then 9-2 Kent State team, but have been unable to get into the win column since, now sitting at 7-8. Now in his fifth season at the helm, Head Coach Shantay Legans will look to course correct, as he looks to lead the Pilots to their first winning season since his debut season of 2021-22. An extremely young team, it should come as no surprise that the Pilots are led by a pair of outstanding freshmen, Joel Foxwell and Timo George. Foxwell, an Australian product, leads the WCC with 113 assists, headlined by a pair of 15 dime performances, including one last time out against Santa Clara. With all the playmaking, its even more impressive that Foxwell also leads the team in scoring at 13.6 per game. George is another international player, hailing from the Netherlands, and is the team's second leading scorer at 12.5 per game, while converting at a near 70% field goal clip. The Pilots did see George go down at halftime against Santa Clara and not return, a major factor in the narrow 92-85 defeat by the Broncos. If George can go against the Gaels, he and Foxwell make a dynamic freshman duo for Portland. The Gaels have been fairly dominant against the Pilots throughout the series history, going 76-30 in their previous 106 meetings. Saint Mary's has not lost to Portland since the WCC tournament in 2015, and have not lost to the Pilots in Moraga since 2006.
ABOUT THE REDHAWKS
The newest member of the WCC, the Seattle U Redhawks have opened their season with an impressive 12-3 record, including signature non-conference wins over Power Four foes Washington and Stanford. The Redhawks stumbled in their conference opener against San Francisco, but rebounded with a win over Washington State to move to 0.500 in the early goings of conference play. Head Coach Chris Victor is in his fifth season at the helm of the Seattle U program, and enjoyed three straight 20+ win seasons to open his tenure. After a hiccup last year, Coach Victor looks to be on his way to another 20+ W season in year one in the WCC. The Redhawks offense has been led by Brayden Maldonado, as the second year starter is averaging 15.7 points per game, and is shooting 48% from the field, 42% from three and a conference best 94.9% from the stripe. That said, defense is the name of the game for Coach Victor's squad, as they lead the WCC in blocks and steals per game, rank second in the conference in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense and come in at third in three point percentage defense. Point guard Maleek Arington, alongside Maldonado, have made life tough on opposing backcourts, combining for 58 steals, while big man Will Heimbrodt has rejected 40 shots in the early goings down low. Once again conference foes (Seattle U was a member of the WCC for 1971-1980), this will be the 33rd all-time meeting between the Gaels and Redhawks, with Seattle U owning a 22-10 record against the Gaels. That said, Saint Mary's has won each of the last five meetings, and six of the last seven.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Portland Pilots
Friday, January 2 at 7 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Seattle U Redhawks
Sunday, January 4 at 6 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
AN IMPRESSIVE FEAT
Saint Mary's is one of just four teams in the country to have both their conference's leading scorer and rebounder on their roster this season, joining Fairfield out of the MAAC, Troy of the Sun Belt and preseason WAC favorite Cal Baptist. Averaging 18.3 points per game, Paulius Murauskas currently stands as the WCC's leading scorer, while Andrew McKeever, ripping down 9.5 boards per game, is the WCC's leading rebounder. Murauskas also leads the WCC in free throws made and attempted, while McKeever has seen his rebound total soar due to his efforts on the offensive glass, leading the WCC in that category as well.
MASTERS OF EFFICIENCY
Per KenPom, Saint Mary's is one of just 26 teams in the country, and one of just five non-power four schools, to rank in the top-50 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Joining the likes of Gonzaga, UConn, Villanova, St Johns and Utah State in the non-P-4 ranks, Saint Mary's eyes their fourth ever chance to finish a season in the top-50 in both offensive and defensive efficiecy under Coach Bennett's tutelage, also doing so in 2016-17, 2022-23 and 2023-24, all NCAA Tournament seasons.
ROAD WARRIORS
Since the 2022-23 campaign, the Saint Mary's Gaels boast an extremely impressive 27-3 (0.900) record in true road contests. In that time period, only Houston (28-3) has a better road record. In this stretch, the Gaels have enjoyed many quality wins away from the friendly confines, including wins over Colorado State in Fort Collins, Utah in Salt Lake City and twice over Gonzaga in Spokane. While it is a small sample size, the Gaels are shooting 50% from the field in their three road contests in 2025-26, and are averaging just nine turnovers per game on the road, both better than their season average.
ABOUT THE PILOTS
Picked to finish at the bottom of the West Coast Conference in the preseason polls, the Portland Pilots turned heads to start the year, opening up at 7-4, including a solid win against a then 9-2 Kent State team, but have been unable to get into the win column since, now sitting at 7-8. Now in his fifth season at the helm, Head Coach Shantay Legans will look to course correct, as he looks to lead the Pilots to their first winning season since his debut season of 2021-22. An extremely young team, it should come as no surprise that the Pilots are led by a pair of outstanding freshmen, Joel Foxwell and Timo George. Foxwell, an Australian product, leads the WCC with 113 assists, headlined by a pair of 15 dime performances, including one last time out against Santa Clara. With all the playmaking, its even more impressive that Foxwell also leads the team in scoring at 13.6 per game. George is another international player, hailing from the Netherlands, and is the team's second leading scorer at 12.5 per game, while converting at a near 70% field goal clip. The Pilots did see George go down at halftime against Santa Clara and not return, a major factor in the narrow 92-85 defeat by the Broncos. If George can go against the Gaels, he and Foxwell make a dynamic freshman duo for Portland. The Gaels have been fairly dominant against the Pilots throughout the series history, going 76-30 in their previous 106 meetings. Saint Mary's has not lost to Portland since the WCC tournament in 2015, and have not lost to the Pilots in Moraga since 2006.
ABOUT THE REDHAWKS
The newest member of the WCC, the Seattle U Redhawks have opened their season with an impressive 12-3 record, including signature non-conference wins over Power Four foes Washington and Stanford. The Redhawks stumbled in their conference opener against San Francisco, but rebounded with a win over Washington State to move to 0.500 in the early goings of conference play. Head Coach Chris Victor is in his fifth season at the helm of the Seattle U program, and enjoyed three straight 20+ win seasons to open his tenure. After a hiccup last year, Coach Victor looks to be on his way to another 20+ W season in year one in the WCC. The Redhawks offense has been led by Brayden Maldonado, as the second year starter is averaging 15.7 points per game, and is shooting 48% from the field, 42% from three and a conference best 94.9% from the stripe. That said, defense is the name of the game for Coach Victor's squad, as they lead the WCC in blocks and steals per game, rank second in the conference in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense and come in at third in three point percentage defense. Point guard Maleek Arington, alongside Maldonado, have made life tough on opposing backcourts, combining for 58 steals, while big man Will Heimbrodt has rejected 40 shots in the early goings down low. Once again conference foes (Seattle U was a member of the WCC for 1971-1980), this will be the 33rd all-time meeting between the Gaels and Redhawks, with Seattle U owning a 22-10 record against the Gaels. That said, Saint Mary's has won each of the last five meetings, and six of the last seven.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballMBB | Andrew McKeever Post Pepperdine, 12-30-25, Presented by University Credit Union
Tuesday, December 30
MBB | Saint Mary's at Pepperdine Highlights, 12-30-25
Tuesday, December 30
MBB | Paulius Murauskas Highlights vs. UNI
Monday, December 29
MBB | Dillan Shaw Highlights at LMU
Monday, December 29
