No. 18 Saint Mary's beats Pepperdine 103-59 for its 13th straight win
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) Augustus Marciulionis scored a career-high 28 points and Alex Ducas beat the halftime buzzer with a halfcourt shot to lead No. 18 Saint Mary's to its 13th straight win, 103-59 over Pepperdine on Thursday night.
The Gaels (21-6, 12-0 West Coast Conference) celebrated their return to the AP Top 25 for the first time since the opening week of the season with another dominant victory to match No. 1 UConn for the longest active winning streak in the country.
“We eventually wore them down and got a little separation,” coach Randy Bennett said. “Once you do, the basket gets a little bigger for us and a little smaller for them. I just think we wore them down. That halfcourt shot at half helped. We were in a pretty good position. But it took us a while to get to that position. Then going in up 16 helped us a lot.”
Nine wins during this streak for Saint Mary's have come by double digits, and the Gaels have opened a 2 1/2-game lead in the conference over San Francisco and Gonzaga.
Ducas added 18 points and Aidan Mahaney scored 13 for Saint Mary’s. The Gaels made 32 of their last 41 shots from the field.
“I don’t think teams really like to grind with us and grit with us on defense for 40 minutes,” Ducas said. "We kind of have an attitude as a team to break them. Let’s see how long they can go before they break. ... No team is going to want to grind with us for 40 minutes. No team wants to do it hard and tough for that long.”
Jevon Porter had 13 points to lead Pepperdine (10-17, 3-9). The Waves have lost seven of eight.
The Gaels shot poorly early, making just 10 of their first 27 shots from the field. But they pulled away late in the first half by making five straight shots that included four 3-pointers during a 14-2 run that opened a 14-point lead.
Ducas then made his buzzer-beater to make it 43-27 at the break, and Saint Mary's was never threatened in the second half.
“I’ve never actually made a (halfcourt) shot," Ducas said. "I've seen a few people make it this year. I’ve heard it was free beer for a year. I'll talk to somebody around here, but I made a halfcourt shot right around halftime so I’m sure it counts for something.”
BIG PICTURE
Pepperdine: The Waves struggled to get good looks early against Saint Mary's stout halfcourt defense. They didn't score for the first 4:14 and made only eight baskets in the first half.
Saint Mary's: The Gaels have shaken off a rough start to the season that included a 1-5 stretch that dropped them to 3-5 on Dec. 1. They have won 17 of 18 since then and are in good position to make the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons for the first time in school history.
INJURY UPDATE
The Gaels were without forward Joshua Jefferson, who had started all 26 games this season, averaging 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds. He injured his left leg last weekend at Portland and underwent an MRI. Bennett said he should have a better idea on the severity of the injury in a few days.
UP NEXT
Pepperdine: Hosts Portland on Saturday night.
Saint Mary's: Hosts San Francisco on Tuesday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Jevon Porter vs. Mitchell Saxen (Aidan Mahaney gains possession) | |||
19:34 | Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup | |||
19:32 | Michael Ajayi defensive rebound | |||
19:02 | Waves turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
18:55 | +3 | Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Augustas Marciulionis assists) | 0-3 | |
18:43 | Michael Ajayi misses two point jump shot | |||
18:41 | Augustas Marciulionis defensive rebound | |||
18:26 | Mitchell Saxen misses two point hook shot | |||
18:24 | Michael Ajayi defensive rebound | |||
18:11 | Jevon Porter misses two point jump shot | |||
18:09 | Alex Ducas defensive rebound | |||
17:52 | Augustas Marciulionis misses three point jump shot | |||
17:50 | Waves defensive rebound | |||
17:35 | Michael Ajayi misses two point jump shot | |||
17:33 | Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound | |||
17:16 | Jevon Porter blocks Mitchell Saxen's two point layup | |||
17:14 | Ethan Anderson defensive rebound | |||
17:09 | Aidan Mahaney personal foul (Ethan Anderson draws the foul) | |||
17:03 | Malik Moore misses two point jump shot | |||
17:01 | Augustas Marciulionis defensive rebound | |||
16:40 | Augustas Marciulionis misses two point layup | |||
16:38 | Jevon Porter defensive rebound | |||
16:35 | Michael Ajayi turnover (bad pass) (Alex Ducas steals) | |||
16:28 | +3 | Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Luke Barrett assists) | 0-6 | |
16:18 | Jevon Porter turnover (traveling) | |||
15:58 | Augustas Marciulionis misses two point layup | |||
15:56 | Michael Ajayi defensive rebound | |||
15:48 | +3 | Malik Moore makes three point jump shot (Ethan Anderson assists) | 3-6 | |
15:44 | TV timeout | |||
15:33 | Malik Moore personal foul (Aidan Mahaney draws the foul) | |||
15:22 | Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot | |||
15:20 | Waves defensive rebound | |||
14:57 | +2 | Jevon Porter makes two point jump shot (Houston Mallette assists) | 5-6 | |
14:39 | Nils Cooper personal foul (Mitchell Saxen draws the foul) | |||
14:22 | Malik Moore blocks Luke Barrett's two point jump shot | |||
14:20 | Malik Moore defensive rebound | |||
14:04 | Malik Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
14:02 | Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound | |||
13:54 | Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot | |||
13:52 | Alex Ducas offensive rebound | |||
13:46 | +2 | Mason Forbes makes two point dunk (Mitchell Saxen assists) | 5-8 | |
13:32 | +2 | Cord Stansberry makes two point layup | 7-8 | |
13:11 | +2 | Aidan Mahaney makes two point layup | 7-10 | |
13:01 | Michael Ajayi turnover (lost ball) (Mason Forbes steals) | |||
12:47 | Mitchell Saxen misses two point layup | |||
12:45 | Nils Cooper defensive rebound | |||
12:36 | +2 | Jevon Porter makes two point dunk | 9-10 | |
12:36 | Alex Ducas shooting foul (Jevon Porter draws the foul) | |||
12:36 | Jevon Porter misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
12:36 | Harry Wessels defensive rebound | |||
12:21 | Harry Wessels misses two point layup | |||
12:19 | Mason Forbes offensive rebound | |||
12:12 | +2 | Mason Forbes makes two point layup | 9-12 | |
12:02 | Michael Ajayi misses two point layup | |||
12:00 | Harry Wessels defensive rebound | |||
11:44 | Alex Ducas misses two point layup | |||
11:42 | Harry Wessels offensive rebound | |||
11:39 | Harry Wessels offensive foul (Michael Ajayi draws the foul) | |||
11:39 | Harry Wessels turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:39 | TV timeout | |||
11:26 | Harry Wessels shooting foul (Jevon Porter draws the foul) | |||
11:26 | Jevon Porter misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:26 | +1 | Jevon Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-12 | |
11:07 | Cord Stansberry personal foul (Aidan Mahaney draws the foul) | |||
11:02 | Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot | |||
11:00 | Harry Wessels offensive rebound | |||
10:57 | Michael Ajayi personal foul (Harry Wessels draws the foul) | |||
10:49 | +2 | Alex Ducas makes two point jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists) | 10-14 | |
10:41 | Cord Stansberry turnover (out of bounds) | |||
10:26 | Mason Forbes turnover (bad pass) (Nils Cooper steals) | |||
10:11 | +2 | Ethan Anderson makes two point hook shot | 12-14 | |
9:57 | +2 | Augustas Marciulionis makes two point layup | 12-16 | |
9:42 | Jevon Porter misses three point jump shot | |||
9:40 | Nils Cooper offensive rebound | |||
9:39 | Alex Ducas shooting foul (Nils Cooper draws the foul) | |||
9:39 | Nils Cooper misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:39 | +1 | Nils Cooper makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-16 | |
9:28 | Augustas Marciulionis misses two point layup | |||
9:26 | Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound | |||
9:20 | Mitchell Saxen misses two point layup | |||
9:18 | Gaels offensive rebound | |||
8:58 | +2 | Chris Howell makes two point layup (Augustas Marciulionis assists) | 13-18 | |
8:33 | Mason Forbes shooting foul (Jevon Porter draws the foul) | |||
8:33 | Official timeout | |||
8:33 | +1 | Jevon Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-18 | |
8:33 | +1 | Jevon Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-18 | |
8:20 | +2 | Augustas Marciulionis makes two point layup | 15-20 | |
7:59 | Mason Forbes blocks Michael Ajayi's two point jump shot | |||
7:57 | Waves offensive rebound | |||
7:57 | TV timeout | |||
7:57 | Cord Stansberry misses three point jump shot | |||
7:55 | Jevon Porter offensive rebound | |||
7:53 | Jevon Porter misses three point jump shot | |||
7:51 | Mason Forbes defensive rebound | |||
7:29 | Jevon Porter shooting foul (Augustas Marciulionis draws the foul) | |||
7:29 | +1 | Augustas Marciulionis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-21 | |
7:29 | +1 | Augustas Marciulionis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-22 | |
7:19 | Ethan Anderson misses two point jump shot | |||
7:17 | Chris Howell defensive rebound | |||
7:02 | +2 | Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup | 15-24 | |
6:38 | Jevon Porter turnover (lost ball) (Mason Forbes steals) | |||
6:20 | Chris Howell turnover (bad pass) (Ethan Anderson steals) | |||
6:09 | Mason Forbes personal foul (Michael Ajayi draws the foul) | |||
6:09 | +1 | Michael Ajayi makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-24 | |
6:09 | +1 | Michael Ajayi makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-24 | |
5:52 | Chris Howell misses three point jump shot | |||
5:50 | Houston Mallette defensive rebound | |||
5:39 | +2 | Michael Ajayi makes two point layup | 19-24 | |
5:39 | Chris Howell shooting foul (Michael Ajayi draws the foul) | |||
5:39 | +1 | Michael Ajayi makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 20-24 | |
5:21 | Augustas Marciulionis misses two point jump shot | |||
5:19 | Houston Mallette defensive rebound | |||
5:16 | Waves 30 second timeout | |||
5:02 | +2 | Jevon Porter makes two point layup (Michael Ajayi assists) | 22-24 | |
4:40 | +3 | Augustas Marciulionis makes three point jump shot (Aidan Mahaney assists) | 22-27 | |
4:18 | Luke Barrett personal foul (Michael Ajayi draws the foul) | |||
4:18 | +1 | Michael Ajayi makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-27 | |
4:18 | +1 | Michael Ajayi makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-27 | |
4:08 | +2 | Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup (Augustas Marciulionis assists) | 24-29 | |
3:50 | Jevon Porter misses three point jump shot | |||
3:48 | Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound | |||
3:37 | +3 | Aidan Mahaney makes three point jump shot (Alex Ducas assists) | 24-32 | |
3:29 | Waves 30 second timeout | |||
3:29 | TV timeout | |||
3:12 | Mitchell Saxen blocks Houston Mallette's two point hook shot | |||
3:10 | Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound | |||
2:38 | +3 | Augustas Marciulionis makes three point jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists) | 24-35 | |
2:27 | Jevon Porter misses three point jump shot | |||
2:25 | Gaels defensive rebound | |||
2:02 | +3 | Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists) | 24-38 | |
1:41 | +2 | Michael Ajayi makes two point jump shot | 26-38 | |
1:22 | Houston Mallette personal foul (Aidan Mahaney draws the foul) | |||
1:11 | Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup | |||
1:09 | Malik Moore defensive rebound | |||
0:58 | Mason Forbes blocks Michael Ajayi's two point layup | |||
0:56 | Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound | |||
0:47 | Aidan Mahaney turnover (bad pass) (Malik Moore steals) | |||
0:39 | Michael Ajayi misses two point jump shot | |||
0:37 | Alex Ducas defensive rebound | |||
0:11 | +2 | Augustas Marciulionis makes two point layup | 26-40 | |
0:04 | Augustas Marciulionis shooting foul (Houston Mallette draws the foul) | |||
0:04 | +1 | Houston Mallette makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-40 | |
0:04 | Houston Mallette misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:04 | Alex Ducas defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | +3 | Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot | 27-43 | |
0:00 | End of period |