Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
11/9/2026 2:37:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — There was a lot to like from the opening week of Saint Mary's Men's Basketball this week. The Gaels opened up their season at 2-1, scoring at least 90 points in three straight contests for the first time since the 1970-71 season, and broke the program single game three point record, making 20 against North Dakota State. At the center of it all was sophomore Mantas Juzenas, who averaged nearly 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists per game en route to being named the Saint Mary's Student-Athlete of the Week.
After playing in a limited bench role in 2025-26, Juzenas has proven that he will be a star here as a sophomore in 2026-27. The Lithuanian national opened his second year with the Gaels with his first collegiate double-double, made up of a career-high 20 points and a career-high 11 boards. He came up just one point shy of his second double-double against North Dakota State, but did match his career-high with 11 more rebounds, and added a career-best seven assists and just one turnover. Juzenas rounded out his week with a career-high 24 points to go along with eight boards and four assists, burying a three late to tie things up and force overtime. On the young campaign, he is the Gaels' second leading scorer, and leads the team in rebounds and assists.
OTHER NOMINEES: Lucy Aherne (WBB), Sam Bentley (MSOC), Samuil Danaliov (MSWIM), Hamish Ellison (MWP), Paulo Hugo Etchecoin (MTEN), Brooke Fairbanks (WSOC), Antonie Kelnarova (VB), Priya Nelson/Stella Remander (WTEN), Melody Mimi Okano (WSWIM)
#GaelsRise
After playing in a limited bench role in 2025-26, Juzenas has proven that he will be a star here as a sophomore in 2026-27. The Lithuanian national opened his second year with the Gaels with his first collegiate double-double, made up of a career-high 20 points and a career-high 11 boards. He came up just one point shy of his second double-double against North Dakota State, but did match his career-high with 11 more rebounds, and added a career-best seven assists and just one turnover. Juzenas rounded out his week with a career-high 24 points to go along with eight boards and four assists, burying a three late to tie things up and force overtime. On the young campaign, he is the Gaels' second leading scorer, and leads the team in rebounds and assists.
OTHER NOMINEES: Lucy Aherne (WBB), Sam Bentley (MSOC), Samuil Danaliov (MSWIM), Hamish Ellison (MWP), Paulo Hugo Etchecoin (MTEN), Brooke Fairbanks (WSOC), Antonie Kelnarova (VB), Priya Nelson/Stella Remander (WTEN), Melody Mimi Okano (WSWIM)
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
G/F
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