MORAGA, Calif. (AP) St. Mary's College, playing its first home game after losing two games to nationally ranked teams in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, never trailed as it defeated San Francisco State 71-48 Sunday.
St. Mary's (3-2) junior forward Daniel Kickert, who had a game-high 25 points, opened scoring by converting a three-point play. He scored a dunk off a pass from Jonathan Sanders after San Francisco State (0-2) cut the Gaels' lead to 6-5, and St. Mary's built the margin from there.
The Gaels, who shot only 24.4 percent from 3-point range in their first four games, opened Sunday by hitting four consecutive 3-pointers, two of them by Jason Walberg. In the process, they extended their lead to double digits and ended up finishing the game hitting seven of 20 3-point attempts.
St. Mary's held San Francisco State scoreless for a 6:08 period in the first half with Blake Sholberg making two blocks on one possession and the Gators turning the ball over four times.
St. Mary's, which led 43-17 at the half, built its biggest lead of the night at 49-17 with the first three baskets of the second half. Kickert, a 6-foot-10 returning all-West Coast Conference first teamer, had his second double-double of the season, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds. Brett Collins was the only other player in double digits for St. Mary's with 13.
Ryan Cleaves led San Francisco State with 18.
