Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Another Murauskas Scoring Explosion Earns Him His Third Career WCC Player of the Week Honor
1/5/2026 12:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — It was a truly special week for junior forward Paulius Murauskas to close out 2025 and ring in 2026. The Kaunas, Lithuania native led the Gaels to a trio of wins over Pepperdine, Portland and Seattle U, and looked like an unstoppable offensive force in all three contests. As such, Murauskas notched his second WCC Player of the Week honor this season, and his third overall. He is the first Gael since Logan Johnson, in the 2021-22 campaign, to win the award twice in the same season.
Murauskas led the Gaels in scoring in all three contests, and got better by the game, starting with a 19 point outpouring on the road at Pepperdine. He matched a then season-high eight made field goals against the Waves, before scoring nine field goals in the Gaels conference home opener against Portland, en-route to a 24 point, seven rebound and five assists performance vs the Pilots. His final act of the three game weekend, however, was certainly the most impressive, as the big man went for 30 points and 15 rebounds, both matching his career-highs, in a come from behind victory over Seattle U. In his final tally for the week, Murauskas averaged 24.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per contest, while shooting 54% from the field. He continues to lead the conference in scoring, while ranking third in the nation in total points scored, second in free throw attempts and first in free throw makes.
Paulius and the Gaels will next play host to Washington State on Saturday, January 10. Washington State was the last team that Paulius dropped 30 against, doing so on Lithuania night a year ago.
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Murauskas led the Gaels in scoring in all three contests, and got better by the game, starting with a 19 point outpouring on the road at Pepperdine. He matched a then season-high eight made field goals against the Waves, before scoring nine field goals in the Gaels conference home opener against Portland, en-route to a 24 point, seven rebound and five assists performance vs the Pilots. His final act of the three game weekend, however, was certainly the most impressive, as the big man went for 30 points and 15 rebounds, both matching his career-highs, in a come from behind victory over Seattle U. In his final tally for the week, Murauskas averaged 24.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per contest, while shooting 54% from the field. He continues to lead the conference in scoring, while ranking third in the nation in total points scored, second in free throw attempts and first in free throw makes.
Paulius and the Gaels will next play host to Washington State on Saturday, January 10. Washington State was the last team that Paulius dropped 30 against, doing so on Lithuania night a year ago.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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MBB | Randy Bennett Postgame vs. Seattle U, 1-4-26, Presented by University Credit Union
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