ROME, Ga. - Saint Mary's nearly pulled off their first ever NIT Championship but fell 4-2 to Chattanooga in their first ever matchup. After dropping the doubles point, the Gaels battled in all six duals as the match went down to the final two singles involving Thibaud Maxant and Pierre Lieutaud. 

Carlos Ramos completed his impressive NIT run with a straight sets win over Chattanooga's Jakub Jupa, 6-4 7-6. Francisco Duran won his dual after a tiebreaker in the first set to get Saint Mary's their second point of the match. The Gaels were down 3-2 with two matches to play with Thibaud Maxant and Pierre Lieutaud. Maxant put up a great fight out of the number two position, winning the second set 6-2 to force a third and extend the match. Lieutaud also battled through three sets but after winning the opener 6-4, he dropped back-to-back 6-4 7-5 to give Chattanooga the clinching point. 

The Gaels put up a terrific fight in their first ever NIT Championship match, finishing the postseason event 2-1 with wins over Morgan State and Rider University. Full match results can be found below:    

Men's Final: Chattanooga def. Saint Mary's, 4-2

Doubles
No. 1 Gabriel Castillo-Sanchez / Jakub Jupa (Chattanooga) def. Thibaud Maxant / Carlos Ramos Membrives (Saint Mary's), 6-1
No. 2 Ryan Mudre / Jaxon Lamb (Chattanooga) vs. Finn Dyer / Pierre Lieutaud (Saint Mary's), 4-4
No. 3 Cortland Grove/Carson Grompert (Chattanooga) def. Francisco Duran/ Aidan Watt (Saint Mary's), 6-2
Chattanooga wins the doubles point.

Singles
No. 1 Carlos Ramos Membrives (Saint Mary's) def. Jakub Jupa (Chattanooga), 6-4, 7-6
No. 2 Gabriel Castillo-Sanchez (Chattanooga) vs. Thibaud Maxant (Saint Mary's), 6-4,2-6, 6-5, DNF
No. 3 Ryan Mudre (Chattanooga) def. Finn Dyer (Saint Mary's), 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 Cortland Grove (Chattanooga) def. Pierre Lieutaud (Saint Mary's), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
No. 5 Kristof Kincses (Chattanooga) def. Bastien Maxant (Saint Mary's), 7-5, 6-4
No. 6 Francisco Duran (Saint Mary's) def. Jaxon Lamb (Chattanooga), 7-6(4), 6-4

Complete season stats and results can be found at smcgaels.com. Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information. 

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