No. 15 Saint Mary's tops Pacific 83-52 for WCC title share
AP
Feb 24, 2023
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) Logan Johnson scored 29 points in the final home game of his career and No. 15 Saint Mary's Gaels clinched at least a share of the West Coast Conference regular-season title with an 83-52 victory over Pacific Tigers on Thursday night.
''It's nice that we were able to clinch a share of it on our home court,'' coach Randy Bennett said. ''I wanted to make sure they would get recognized and win out on their home court the right way. ... For them to be able to win this thing on our home court, I definitely wanted the crowd to be able to show their appreciation.''
Alex Ducas added 17 points and Mitchell Saxen scored 11 for the Gaels (25-5, 14-1). Saint Mary's is assured no worse than a tie for first place in the conference for the first time since 2015-16 and can secure its first outright crown since 2011-12 by winning at No. 12 Gonzaga on Saturday night.
The Gaels held a trophy ceremony at midcourt after the game and put on championship T-shirts. But the celebration didn't last long, with a bigger game looming.
''About 10 more minutes until I shower and go home,'' Ducas said of how long he'd celebrate this win. ''We'll get our minds right. We have bigger things to focus on. There's plenty more time to celebrate after the season is done.''
The Gaels wrapped up their second straight perfect home season in conference play with a victory that gave them 25 wins for the 12th time in the last 16 seasons.
Jordan Ivy-Curry scored 11 points to lead the Tigers (13-17, 6-9), who have lost five of six.
Johnson helped break the game open early, sparking a 21-6 run that gave Saint Mary's a 33-16 lead midway through the first half. He scored 12 points during that stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers to cap it.
Johnson finished with 20 points in the half as the Gaels led 48-31 at the break.
Saint Mary's was never threatened in the second half, with Ducas' 3 making it 68-35 midway through the half.
SENIOR NIGHT
The Gaels honored their three senior starters before the game: Johnson, Ducas and Kyle Bowen.
All three have started every game the past two seasons, helping Saint Mary's earn a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament last year and putting the Gaels in position to win the conference title this season.
''These three guys are special,'' Bennett said. ''We may never have a group of three leaders, as seniors, as good as these guys. I know what special looks like and these guys are special.''
Ducas and Bowen could choose to return for a fifth season because of the 2020 campaign impacted by COVID-19 but haven't made a final decision.
Saint Mary's reserve Matt Van Komen also was honored.
BIG PICTURE
Pacific: The Tigers lost their 34th straight game against a ranked opponent since beating No. 21 Providence in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
Saint Mary's: The Gaels have won four straight since their lone slip-up in conference play, an overtime loss at Loyola Marymount two weeks ago. But their toughest test yet comes in the finale at Gonzaga. Saint Mary's won the first matchup at home 78-70 in OT earlier this month.
UP NEXT
Pacific: Hosts Portland on Saturday.
Saint Mary's: Visits No. 12 Gonzaga on Saturday night.
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1st Half
UOP
Tigers
31
SMARY
Gaels
48
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Keylan Boone vs. Mitchell Saxen (Gaels gains possession)
19:46
Mitchell Saxen turnover (traveling)
19:18
+2
Judson Martindale makes two point dunk (Moe Odum assists)
2-0
18:47
Mitchell Saxen misses two point layup
18:45
Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound
18:42
+2
Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup
2-2
18:29
Judson Martindale misses three point jump shot
18:27
Alex Ducas defensive rebound
18:17
Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot
18:15
Judson Martindale defensive rebound
18:14
Mitchell Saxen personal foul
17:53
Mitchell Saxen blocks Judson Martindale's two point layup
17:51
Kyle Bowen defensive rebound
17:41
Kyle Bowen misses three point jump shot
17:39
Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound
17:34
+2
Mitchell Saxen makes two point tip layup
2-4
17:21
+3
Moe Odum makes three point pullup jump shot
5-4
17:02
Logan Johnson misses two point layup
17:00
Logan Johnson offensive rebound
16:57
Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
16:55
Gaels offensive rebound
16:48
Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
16:46
Keylan Boone defensive rebound
16:37
Logan Johnson shooting foul (Moe Odum draws the foul)
16:37
Moe Odum misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:37
Moe Odum misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:37
Alex Ducas defensive rebound
16:18
+2
Logan Johnson makes two point layup
5-6
16:07
Keylan Boone misses three point stepback jump shot
16:05
Alex Ducas defensive rebound
15:58
Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
15:56
Tigers defensive rebound
15:56
TV timeout
15:41
Aidan Mahaney shooting foul (Donovan Williams draws the foul)
15:41
+1
Donovan Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2
6-6
15:41
+1
Donovan Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2
7-6
15:25
+2
Alex Ducas makes two point layup (Logan Johnson assists)
7-8
15:08
Alex Ducas blocks Donovan Williams's two point driving hook shot
15:06
Alex Ducas defensive rebound
15:00
+2
Logan Johnson makes two point layup
7-10
14:54
Luke Avdalovic misses three point jump shot
14:52
Kyle Bowen defensive rebound
14:41
Donovan Williams blocks Logan Johnson's two point layup
14:40
Gaels offensive rebound
14:36
+2
Aidan Mahaney makes two point pullup jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists)
7-12
14:17
+3
Donovan Williams makes three point jump shot (Moe Odum assists)
10-12
13:58
+2
Mitchell Saxen makes two point jump shot
10-14
13:40
Keylan Boone misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
13:38
Logan Johnson defensive rebound
13:24
Logan Johnson misses three point jump shot
13:22
Donovan Williams defensive rebound
13:14
Moe Odum misses three point jump shot
13:12
Alex Ducas defensive rebound
12:58
Moe Odum shooting foul (Aidan Mahaney draws the foul)
12:58
+1
Aidan Mahaney makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-15
12:58
+1
Aidan Mahaney makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-16
12:47
Tyler Beard turnover (bad pass)
12:30
+2
Logan Johnson makes two point layup
10-18
12:01
Mitchell Saxen blocks Sam Freeman's two point layup
11:59
Tigers offensive rebound
11:59
TV timeout
11:57
Tigers turnover (shot clock violation)
11:42
+2
Logan Johnson makes two point layup
10-20
11:18
+2
Jordan Ivy-Curry makes two point pullup jump shot
12-20
10:45
+2
Augustas Marciulionis makes two point layup
12-22
10:23
+2
Tyler Beard makes two point pullup jump shot (Donovan Williams assists)
14-22
10:04
+3
Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Logan Johnson assists)
14-25
9:36
Donovan Williams turnover (lost ball) (Kyle Bowen steals)
9:36
+2
Logan Johnson makes two point layup (Kyle Bowen assists)
14-27
9:23
Sam Freeman turnover (bad pass) (Logan Johnson steals)
9:21
Jordan Ivy-Curry personal foul (Logan Johnson draws the foul)
9:07
Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
9:05
Tyler Beard defensive rebound
9:02
Alex Ducas blocks Donovan Williams's two point layup
9:00
Alex Ducas defensive rebound
8:51
Sam Freeman blocks Kyle Bowen's two point layup
8:49
Keylan Boone defensive rebound
8:42
Alex Ducas blocks Donovan Williams's two point layup
8:42
Harry Wessels defensive rebound
8:39
Tyler Beard personal foul
8:19
+3
Logan Johnson makes three point jump shot (Harry Wessels assists)
14-30
8:04
+2
Judson Martindale makes two point layup
16-30
7:42
Augustas Marciulionis misses two point layup
7:41
Keylan Boone defensive rebound
7:41
Keylan Boone turnover (bad pass)
7:39
TV timeout
7:28
+3
Logan Johnson makes three point jump shot (Kyle Bowen assists)
16-33
7:15
Augustas Marciulionis personal foul
6:59
Keylan Boone misses two point layup
6:57
Kyle Bowen defensive rebound
6:30
Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot
6:28
Jordan Ivy-Curry defensive rebound
6:14
+2
Moe Odum makes two point pullup jump shot
18-33
5:52
Keylan Boone shooting foul (Augustas Marciulionis draws the foul)
5:52
+1
Augustas Marciulionis makes regular free throw 1 of 2
18-34
5:52
+1
Augustas Marciulionis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
18-35
5:35
+3
Judson Martindale makes three point jump shot (Moe Odum assists)
21-35
5:09
Mitchell Saxen misses two point layup
5:07
Luke Avdalovic defensive rebound
5:03
Moe Odum misses two point stepback jump shot
5:01
Gaels defensive rebound
5:01
Keylan Boone personal foul
4:46
Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
4:44
Jordan Ivy-Curry defensive rebound
4:37
Keylan Boone misses two point layup
4:36
Keylan Boone offensive rebound
4:36
+2
Keylan Boone makes two point layup
23-35
4:13
+2
Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup (Logan Johnson assists)
23-37
4:13
Jordan Ivy-Curry shooting foul (Mitchell Saxen draws the foul)
4:13
+1
Mitchell Saxen makes regular free throw 1 of 1
23-38
3:54
Greg Outlaw turnover (traveling)
3:54
TV timeout
3:40
Mitchell Saxen offensive foul
3:40
Mitchell Saxen turnover (offensive foul)
3:20
Moe Odum misses two point jump shot
3:18
Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound
3:09
+3
Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Kyle Bowen assists)
23-41
2:48
Moe Odum misses two point floating jump shot
2:46
Makai Richards offensive rebound
2:41
Judson Martindale misses three point jump shot
2:39
Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound
2:21
Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot
2:19
Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound
2:12
Judson Martindale personal foul (Kyle Bowen draws the foul)
2:12
+1
Kyle Bowen makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-42
2:12
Kyle Bowen misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:12
Greg Outlaw defensive rebound
1:54
Kyle Bowen personal foul
1:54
Logan Johnson personal foul (Luke Avdalovic draws the foul)
1:54
+1
Luke Avdalovic makes regular free throw 1 of 2
24-42
1:54
+1
Luke Avdalovic makes regular free throw 2 of 2
25-42
1:27
Augustas Marciulionis misses two point layup
1:25
Greg Outlaw defensive rebound
1:21
Alex Ducas personal foul (Judson Martindale draws the foul)
1:21
+1
Judson Martindale makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-42
1:21
+1
Judson Martindale makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-42
1:08
+2
Logan Johnson makes two point layup
27-44
1:08
Makai Richards shooting foul (Logan Johnson draws the foul)
1:08
+1
Logan Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1
27-45
1:08
Gaels 30 second timeout
0:54
Tyler Beard turnover (lost ball) (Joshua Jefferson steals)
0:47
+2
Alex Ducas makes two point layup (Logan Johnson assists)
27-47
0:31
+2
Greg Outlaw makes two point layup
29-47
0:05
Greg Outlaw shooting foul (Logan Johnson draws the foul)
0:05
Logan Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:05
+1
Logan Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
29-48
0:05
Tigers 30 second timeout
0:01
Augustas Marciulionis personal foul (Moe Odum draws the foul)
