Paulius Murauskas recorded 18 factors and 12 rebounds as No. 23 Saint Mary’s persevered by a sluggish effort whereas dispatching Loyola Marymount 58-55 on Thursday evening in West Coast Convention play at Los Angeles.
Murauskas drained a clutch nook 3-pointer to offer the Gaels a six-point lead with 29.9 seconds left and Saint Mary’s (26-4, 16-1 WCC) completed off its sixth straight win and sixteenth in its final 17 contests.
The sport was Saint Mary’s first of the season as a group ranked within the Related Press ballot.
Caleb Stone-Carrawell scored 17 factors and Will Johnston added 12 for the Lions (16-14, 8-10), who misplaced for the thirty sixth time of their previous 38 conferences with the Gaels.
Saint Mary’s beforehand clinched the WCC regular-season crown with final Saturday’s win at Gonzaga.
The Gaels shot simply 37.5 % from the sphere, together with 4 of 15 from 3-point vary.
Loyola Marymount made 38.9 % of its photographs and was 4 of 12 from behind the arc. The Lions dedicated simply three turnovers however nonetheless misplaced for the sixth time of their previous eight video games.
Saint Mary’s led by 5 at halftime earlier than pushing its result in 43-31 on back-to-back baskets by Harry Wessels with 11:33 left within the contest.
The Lions did not get dismayed and pulled inside 50-45 on a 3-pointer by Johnston with 6:15 remaining.
Loyola Marymount moved inside 52-49 on Stone-Carrawell’s basket with 3:17 left. Nevertheless, Jordan Ross drove for a layup to push Saint Mary’s lead again to 5 with 2:04 left.
Johnston made two free throws with 59.7 seconds to go for the Lions however Murauskas answered along with his massive trey from the left nook.
Jevon Porter’s two free throws introduced the Lions inside three with 5.7 seconds left. Saint Mary’s Mikey Lewis missed the entrance finish of a one-and-one with 2.7 seconds left however a desperation try from about 70 toes away by Myron Amey Jr. was nicely in need of the basket.
Murauskas had eight factors and 10 rebounds because the Gaels led 24-19 on the break.
Saint Mary’s shot simply 33.3 % from the sphere within the half, however the Lions have been even worse at 26.7 %.
Stone-Carrawell made two baskets to cap a 7-0 run as Loyola Marymount led 15-8 with 9:37 left within the half.
Saint Mary’s answered with 13 straight factors and 16 of 18 to take a seven-point lead.
–Subject Stage Media