SPOKANE, Wash. — For the first time in program history, the Saint Mary's Gaels (25-4, 15-1 WCC) are back-to-back outright WCC regular season champions! The Gaels accomplished this feat by defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs (21-8, 11-4 WCC) 74-67 in the Kennel on senior night. The Gaels never trailed in this one, opening the game on an 11-0 run and never trailed in this one. The win marked the Gaels first regular season sweep of Gonzaga since 2015-16 and their first time winning back to back games at the Kennel over Gonzaga since 1989 and 1990.
Saint Mary's opened the game on an 11-0 run, immediately taking all of the wind out of the Gonzaga fans' sails. Gonzaga found their footing and cut the deficit twice to three points, but the Gaels closed the half on a 19-12 run to take a double digit lead into the halftime break, 41-31. In his program record tying 150th game as a Gael, Mitchell Saxen was the driving force behind the Gaels offense in the first half with 11 points on 5-7 shooting. Luke Barrett chipped in seven points and a team-high six rebounds, leading the Gaels to a +7 lead on the glass at the half.
Gonzaga countered with a strong second half start, outscoring the Gaels 15-5 over the first 7:10 of the half, but a Mitchell Saxen hoop and harm gave the Gaels a 49-46 lead that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game. The Zags would continue to give Saint Mary's everything they had, bring themselves to within one, 58-57, before Mikey Lewis hit a four point play, sparking a 16-10 run to end the game in favor of the Gaels. Mikey Lewis dropped 12 on the Zags in the second half. Luke Barrett went for seven in the second half, while Mitchell Saxen scored five and ripped down a team-high six boards. Again, the Gaels dominated on the glass, to the tune of +5 in the second half.
Mikey Lewis led the Gaels with 18 points, connecting on 5-7 from three. Mitchell Saxen was not far behind, with 16 points and nine boards, while Luke Barrett chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds, playing the entire 40 minutes. The Gaels were +12 on the glass and +7 on second chance scoring, the major key to tonight's victory.
A WHOLE SLEW OF FIRSTS
With tonight's win, the Saint Mary's Gaels have now won back-to-back WCC regular seasons outright for the first time in program history, as well winning three straight WCC regular season title shares for the first time in program history. This is Saint Mary's first regular season sweep of Gonzaga since the 2015-16 season, and also their first time winning three straight meetings against the Zags under Head Coach Randy Bennett. Last but certainly not least, the Gaels tonight became the first team other than Gonzaga to clinch the conference title outright inside the McCarthey Athletic Center.
MIKEY LEWIS: GONZAGA'S WORST NIGHTMARE
After going for a team-high 16 points against the Zags in Moraga earlier this season, Mikey Lewis was back at again against Gonzaga, this time in Spokane. The true freshman dropped a team-high 18, burying 5-7 three point attempts. Lewis also made the biggest impact play of the game late in the second half. With the Zags surging, down by just won, Lewis buried a corner three despite having his shooting hand hit, and converted the free throw for a four point play to push the Gaels back ahead by five. The Gaels would build that lead all the way up from five to 11, before eventually earning the seven point victory.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will have their final true road game of the year on Thursday, February 27, as they take on LMU in Los Angeles. Tip off is set for 8 PM and can be watched live on CBS Sports Network.
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