Sunday, December 7
Davidson, NC
11:00 AM
Saint Mary's College of California
9-1,0-0WCC
70
at
61
Davidson
7-2,0-0Atlantic 10
1
2
F
Saint Mary's (CA)
27
43
70
Davidson
24
37
61
Harry Wessels: 8 pts (4-5 FG), 7 reb (6 offensive), 2 blks
Photo by: Jonathan Lesane
MBB | Gaels Outlast Wildcats in Gritty, Physical Contest
12/7/2025 2:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DAVIDSON, N.C. — A little over a week after their trip to the Bahamas, Saint Mary's (9-1) found themselves back in the Eastern Time Zone, this time for their first true road contest of the year against a red-hot Davidson team (7-2). The Wildcats fought tooth and nail to push the Gaels, in a contest that featured eight ties and 20 lead changes, and saw Saint Mary's score a season-low 70 points, but when the dust all settled, the SMC defense and rebounding reigned supreme in a 70-61 victory.
The first half was as tight as they come, with neither side ever leading by more than one possession. The Wildcats held onto a narrow 23-20 lead with 5:18 to go, when Joshua Dent buried the first Saint Mary's triple of the half to level things off. The defense would come to life on both sides, but a Rory Hawke layup would push the Gaels ahead 25-23 at the 2:34 mark, and they would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the half, taking a 27-24 lead into the break. Dent accounted for a third of all of the Gaels points in the first frame, missing just once from the field (4-5) and accounting for both of the SMC assists in the half. Andrew McKeever added eight and had an astonishing 10 first half rebounds, his second double-digit rebounding half of the year. McKeever's effort on the glass led the Gaels to a +10 rebounding advantage at the break, while his effort in the paint helped the Gaels to +12 interior scoring advantage.
An Andrew McKeever skyhook on the opening possession of the second half gave the Gaels their first multi-possession lead of the game, and individually gave him his third career double-double. Davidson responded with an 11-2 run of their own, but the Belk Center was quieted by a Dillan Shaw triple to cut the deficit to one. Back and forth we went again with both teams trading one possession lead, until, knotted up at 51 all, Mikey Lewis and Harry Wessels generated a 7-0 Gaels run, bringing it to 58-51 with 5:48 to play. Davidson would shave the deficit to as close as four down the stretch, but the Gaels defense continued to make life tough on the Wildcats, never letting them get into an offensive groove in their comeback effort. When the clock hit zeroes, the scoreboard sat at 70-61, with the Gaels closing out the game on a 5-0 run. If Joshua Dent's first half was great, his second half was perfect, scoring 12 on a perfect 4-4 from the field and 4-4 from the stripe. He also added three assists, not leaving the floor in the second half. Mikey Lewis added nine in the second frame, after being limited to two in the first, while Andrew McKeever went a perfect 3-3 from the field to add seven in the second stanza. The Gaels shot 53.3% from the field as a team in the second half, after shooting sub-40% in half one, doing so by attacking the paint, with 26 scored in the key.
Joshua Dent led the offense both as a scorer and playmaker, with 21 points and five assists. It is his second career 20+ point contest, and his first that also featured five or more assists. Andrew McKeever was a force on the interior with 15 points and 13 boards for his third double-double. Mikey Lewis rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points, scoring nine of those over the final 10 minutes of the contest, helping the Gaels salt away the victory. Saint Mary's finished +18 on the glass, with McKeever going for 13 boards, Dillan Shaw ripping down 10, Harry Wessels chipping in seven and Paulius Murauskas going for six. It was a cold shooting day from beyond the arc, but the Gaels made up for it by scoring 44 in the paint, helping them to their seventh contest shooting 45% or better from the field this season.
THE "UNUSUAL" SUSPECTS
Heading into this contest, Andrew McKeever and Joshua Dent had been identified as solid secondary scorers for the Gaels, but today, they were offensive leaders 1 and 1A. Dent led the charge with 21 points, missing just once from the field. The eight made field goals were a career-high, as was the 89% field goal clip. Dent also added five assists, the only Gaels with an assist today. McKeever finished up with 15 points and 13 boards for his third career double-double. Like Dent, McKeever was efficient offensively, scoring on six of nine field goal attempts. Those two combined for more than half (36 points) of the Gaels scoring today, after averaging a combined 20.3 per game entering today.
DOING THE DIRTY WORK
The Gaels' size really made life difficult for the Davidson Wildcats today, as Saint Mary's dominated on the boards, scored well in the paint, and limited paint scoring opportunities defensively in today's contest. The Gaels finished with +18 rebounding advantage, a +8 offensive rebounding advantage, a +18 paint scoring advantage and a +8 second chance scoring advantage. Andrew McKeever led this front, with 13 boards, including seven offensive, and 12 points scored in the paint. Dillan Shaw added a career-high 10 rebounds, while Harry Wessels went for seven boards (six offensive) and eight points, all in the paint. While the three point shot had been falling throughout most of the season for the Gaels this year, this was the gritty physical brand of basketball that Saint Mary's has been known for for the past two decades.
THE FINAL WORD
UP NEXT
The Gaels will play their fifth straight away from home a week from today, when they head to Idaho Falls and the Mountain America Center to take on Boise State for the third straight year. Tip off is set for 3 PM PST on December 14.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
The first half was as tight as they come, with neither side ever leading by more than one possession. The Wildcats held onto a narrow 23-20 lead with 5:18 to go, when Joshua Dent buried the first Saint Mary's triple of the half to level things off. The defense would come to life on both sides, but a Rory Hawke layup would push the Gaels ahead 25-23 at the 2:34 mark, and they would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the half, taking a 27-24 lead into the break. Dent accounted for a third of all of the Gaels points in the first frame, missing just once from the field (4-5) and accounting for both of the SMC assists in the half. Andrew McKeever added eight and had an astonishing 10 first half rebounds, his second double-digit rebounding half of the year. McKeever's effort on the glass led the Gaels to a +10 rebounding advantage at the break, while his effort in the paint helped the Gaels to +12 interior scoring advantage.
Dent caught 'em napping, and McKeever says, "LOOK OUT BELOW!" #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/wlGUiKl2nv
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Josh Dent calls his own number for the deuce!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/aFJEsUBXh8
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Dent's floater gives the Gaels the lead!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/Rrf1Rzk79d
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
A-Mack with the tip-in for two!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/s7KcZUyPPi
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Joshua Dent is feeling it today, and hasn't missed all day! He buries the triple!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/5lbI7hmQlI
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Joshua Dent's first miss? No problem, A-Mack's got him! #GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/Am53rmMm9k
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
An Andrew McKeever skyhook on the opening possession of the second half gave the Gaels their first multi-possession lead of the game, and individually gave him his third career double-double. Davidson responded with an 11-2 run of their own, but the Belk Center was quieted by a Dillan Shaw triple to cut the deficit to one. Back and forth we went again with both teams trading one possession lead, until, knotted up at 51 all, Mikey Lewis and Harry Wessels generated a 7-0 Gaels run, bringing it to 58-51 with 5:48 to play. Davidson would shave the deficit to as close as four down the stretch, but the Gaels defense continued to make life tough on the Wildcats, never letting them get into an offensive groove in their comeback effort. When the clock hit zeroes, the scoreboard sat at 70-61, with the Gaels closing out the game on a 5-0 run. If Joshua Dent's first half was great, his second half was perfect, scoring 12 on a perfect 4-4 from the field and 4-4 from the stripe. He also added three assists, not leaving the floor in the second half. Mikey Lewis added nine in the second frame, after being limited to two in the first, while Andrew McKeever went a perfect 3-3 from the field to add seven in the second stanza. The Gaels shot 53.3% from the field as a team in the second half, after shooting sub-40% in half one, doing so by attacking the paint, with 26 scored in the key.
Second half underway, and Andrew McKeever has his double-double!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/bchY00UYAK
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
McKeever AND ONE!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/SAvFy8i9vi
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Josh Dent puts the Gaels back in front! #GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/lqUscL4kLH
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Shotclock running down, and Joshua Dent tickles the twine again!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/LedScmpPfY
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
When the Gaels need a bucket today, they've turned to Josh Dent, and he has answered the call, yet again!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/eHr684XyNc
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Mikey Lewis with the acrobatic circus shot through contact!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/55gaJKZr1A
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Mikey Lewis with his first three today, and the Gaels have their largest lead!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/nOU3Mmp9d0
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Dent Drives, Dent Scores! He leads the Gaels with 19 points, as they lead 62-53 with under four minutes to play!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/xTarYlf9p0
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
MIKEY LEWIS MAKES SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING WITH MASSIVE BASKET LATE!#GaelsRise @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/bUSLV0YbOW
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) December 7, 2025
Joshua Dent led the offense both as a scorer and playmaker, with 21 points and five assists. It is his second career 20+ point contest, and his first that also featured five or more assists. Andrew McKeever was a force on the interior with 15 points and 13 boards for his third double-double. Mikey Lewis rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points, scoring nine of those over the final 10 minutes of the contest, helping the Gaels salt away the victory. Saint Mary's finished +18 on the glass, with McKeever going for 13 boards, Dillan Shaw ripping down 10, Harry Wessels chipping in seven and Paulius Murauskas going for six. It was a cold shooting day from beyond the arc, but the Gaels made up for it by scoring 44 in the paint, helping them to their seventh contest shooting 45% or better from the field this season.
THE "UNUSUAL" SUSPECTS
Heading into this contest, Andrew McKeever and Joshua Dent had been identified as solid secondary scorers for the Gaels, but today, they were offensive leaders 1 and 1A. Dent led the charge with 21 points, missing just once from the field. The eight made field goals were a career-high, as was the 89% field goal clip. Dent also added five assists, the only Gaels with an assist today. McKeever finished up with 15 points and 13 boards for his third career double-double. Like Dent, McKeever was efficient offensively, scoring on six of nine field goal attempts. Those two combined for more than half (36 points) of the Gaels scoring today, after averaging a combined 20.3 per game entering today.
DOING THE DIRTY WORK
The Gaels' size really made life difficult for the Davidson Wildcats today, as Saint Mary's dominated on the boards, scored well in the paint, and limited paint scoring opportunities defensively in today's contest. The Gaels finished with +18 rebounding advantage, a +8 offensive rebounding advantage, a +18 paint scoring advantage and a +8 second chance scoring advantage. Andrew McKeever led this front, with 13 boards, including seven offensive, and 12 points scored in the paint. Dillan Shaw added a career-high 10 rebounds, while Harry Wessels went for seven boards (six offensive) and eight points, all in the paint. While the three point shot had been falling throughout most of the season for the Gaels this year, this was the gritty physical brand of basketball that Saint Mary's has been known for for the past two decades.
THE FINAL WORD
UP NEXT
The Gaels will play their fifth straight away from home a week from today, when they head to Idaho Falls and the Mountain America Center to take on Boise State for the third straight year. Tip off is set for 3 PM PST on December 14.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
SMC
DC
FG%
.459
.397
3FG%
.273
.304
FT%
.647
.533
RB
47
29
TO
11
9
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballMBB | Highlights at Davidson, 12-7-25
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MBB | Joshua Dent Postgame at Davidson, 12-7-25, Presented by University Credit Union
Sunday, December 07
MBB | Highlights vs. Vanderbilt, 11-28-25
Friday, November 28
MBB | Randy Bennett Postgame vs. Vanderbilt, 11-28-25, Presented by University Credit Union
Friday, November 28
