MBB | Gaels Down Under: Day 3
8/13/2026 4:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WOLLONGONG, Australia – After two days settling into Sydney, the Saint Mary's men's basketball team made a short drive south to Wollongong Thursday night to take on the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL at the Snakepit in their first game of the Australian Foreign Tour.
The Gaels opened up their first competition in a physical battle, learning to play an aggressive and uptempo style of the NBL. Saint Mary's battled for the full 40 minutes against one of the top teams in the league, eventually falling 95-78 to the Illawarra Hawks on their home court.
First year head coach Mickey McConnell started the game with the lineup of Joshua Dent, Darius Bivins, Mantas Juzenas, Vangelis Zougris and Salih Altuntas.
The Gaels were led offensively by Juzenas, who scored a game-high 24 points, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and added five rebounds. Dent, playing in front of 30 family members in his hometown, had 13 points and six assists.
Saint Mary's physical lineup up front won the rebounding advantage 49 to 44, with Altunas grabbing eight rebounds to go along with 11 points. Zougris had 10 points and six rebounds and Thomas Ndong added seven rebounds.
To begin the game, the Gaels started off strong, jumping out to a 12-2 run, finished off by a Juzenas dunk, forcing the Hawks to call a timeout.
The Hawks battled back in a physical first half and took a 39-35 lead into the break. Juzenas led all scorers with 14 points, on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range. Dent added seven points and three assists and Altunas had six points and six rebounds.
To start the day, Saint Mary's had another team outing after breakfast, this time visiting the Wild Life Sydney Zoo, checking out kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles.
The Gaels have a quick turnaround before their second game of the tour. Saint Mary's faces the Sydney Kings Friday morning at 10:30 a.m., before catching a flight to Melbourne following the game. Friday's game will not be live-streamed.
SAINT MARY'S DOWN UNDER GAME SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 13 - Illawarra Hawks 95, Saint Mary's 78
Friday, Aug. 14 - 10:30 a.m. vs. Sydney Kings
Sunday, Aug. 16 - 1 p.m. vs. SE Melbourne Phoenix
Monday, Aug. 17 - 6:30 p.m. vs. Dandedong Rangers
Wednesday, Aug. 19 - 6:30 p.m. vs. Cairns Taipans
(All times Australian Standard Time)
The Gaels opened up their first competition in a physical battle, learning to play an aggressive and uptempo style of the NBL. Saint Mary's battled for the full 40 minutes against one of the top teams in the league, eventually falling 95-78 to the Illawarra Hawks on their home court.
First year head coach Mickey McConnell started the game with the lineup of Joshua Dent, Darius Bivins, Mantas Juzenas, Vangelis Zougris and Salih Altuntas.
The Gaels were led offensively by Juzenas, who scored a game-high 24 points, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and added five rebounds. Dent, playing in front of 30 family members in his hometown, had 13 points and six assists.
Saint Mary's physical lineup up front won the rebounding advantage 49 to 44, with Altunas grabbing eight rebounds to go along with 11 points. Zougris had 10 points and six rebounds and Thomas Ndong added seven rebounds.
To begin the game, the Gaels started off strong, jumping out to a 12-2 run, finished off by a Juzenas dunk, forcing the Hawks to call a timeout.
The Hawks battled back in a physical first half and took a 39-35 lead into the break. Juzenas led all scorers with 14 points, on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range. Dent added seven points and three assists and Altunas had six points and six rebounds.
To start the day, Saint Mary's had another team outing after breakfast, this time visiting the Wild Life Sydney Zoo, checking out kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles.
The Gaels have a quick turnaround before their second game of the tour. Saint Mary's faces the Sydney Kings Friday morning at 10:30 a.m., before catching a flight to Melbourne following the game. Friday's game will not be live-streamed.
SAINT MARY'S DOWN UNDER GAME SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 13 - Illawarra Hawks 95, Saint Mary's 78
Friday, Aug. 14 - 10:30 a.m. vs. Sydney Kings
Sunday, Aug. 16 - 1 p.m. vs. SE Melbourne Phoenix
Monday, Aug. 17 - 6:30 p.m. vs. Dandedong Rangers
Wednesday, Aug. 19 - 6:30 p.m. vs. Cairns Taipans
(All times Australian Standard Time)
#GaelsDownUnder
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