MBB | Gaels Down Under: Day 8 & 9
8/19/2026 5:35:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CAIRNS, Australia – The Saint Mary's men's basketball team traveled north to Cairns for the final leg of their Australian Foreign Tour, arriving Tuesday afternoon in the much warmer coastal town, in preparation for their final game of the tour Wednesday night.
After a restful Tuesday, the Gaels were focused on Wednesday night's game, with an early shootaround before facing the Cairns Taipans of the NBL at the Ford Trinity Center. Saint Mary's used a strong second half to cut the lead to five with three minutes remaining, but Cairns hung on for a 91-79 victory.
Saint Mary's was led offensively by Vangelis Zougris, who scored a game-high 21 points and added five rebounds and three assists. Over the five games on the tour, Zougris averaged 13.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
After going scoreless in the first half, Joshua Dent led the offensive surge in the second half for the Gaels. Dent scored all of his 17 points after halftime and added five rebounds. Luke Fennell got his second straight start and scored 11 points, including going 3-for-6 from three-point range. Mantas Juzenas added 10 points and had a team-high seven rebounds.
The Gaels had a strong performance on the boards, grabbing 48 rebounds, compared to the Cairns' 35. Salih Altuntas shared the team-high in rebounds with seven, and added six points.
Saint Mary's wraps up its Australian Tour with a well-deserved barrier reef day on Thursday. The Gaels will spend the full day at the Moore Reef, about 45 minutes off the coast of Cairns. Saint Mary's returns to Moraga on Friday afternoon.
SAINT MARY'S DOWN UNDER GAME SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 13 - Illawarra Hawks 95, Saint Mary's 78
Friday, Aug. 14 - Saint Mary's 85,. Sydney Kings 72
Sunday, Aug. 16 - SE Melbourne Phoenix 86, Saint Mary's 64
Monday, Aug. 17 - Saint Mary's 90, Dandenong Rangers 70
Wednesday, Aug. 19 - Cairns Taipans 91, Saint Mary's 79
After a restful Tuesday, the Gaels were focused on Wednesday night's game, with an early shootaround before facing the Cairns Taipans of the NBL at the Ford Trinity Center. Saint Mary's used a strong second half to cut the lead to five with three minutes remaining, but Cairns hung on for a 91-79 victory.
Saint Mary's was led offensively by Vangelis Zougris, who scored a game-high 21 points and added five rebounds and three assists. Over the five games on the tour, Zougris averaged 13.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
After going scoreless in the first half, Joshua Dent led the offensive surge in the second half for the Gaels. Dent scored all of his 17 points after halftime and added five rebounds. Luke Fennell got his second straight start and scored 11 points, including going 3-for-6 from three-point range. Mantas Juzenas added 10 points and had a team-high seven rebounds.
The Gaels had a strong performance on the boards, grabbing 48 rebounds, compared to the Cairns' 35. Salih Altuntas shared the team-high in rebounds with seven, and added six points.
Saint Mary's wraps up its Australian Tour with a well-deserved barrier reef day on Thursday. The Gaels will spend the full day at the Moore Reef, about 45 minutes off the coast of Cairns. Saint Mary's returns to Moraga on Friday afternoon.
SAINT MARY'S DOWN UNDER GAME SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 13 - Illawarra Hawks 95, Saint Mary's 78
Friday, Aug. 14 - Saint Mary's 85,. Sydney Kings 72
Sunday, Aug. 16 - SE Melbourne Phoenix 86, Saint Mary's 64
Monday, Aug. 17 - Saint Mary's 90, Dandenong Rangers 70
Wednesday, Aug. 19 - Cairns Taipans 91, Saint Mary's 79
#GaelsDownUnder
Players Mentioned
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