2nd Half Notes:
-Great no look dish from Tyler Williams (USD) to Wright for a Layup.
-Three point play opportunity for Piniero, after nice agressive move to the hoop. He completes the 3 Pt. play.
-Nice give and go for Saint Mary's finished by Naar for a layup.
-Carter answers with a nice jumper.
-Londale gets back to the line again, what else is new? Floresca now with two fouls. They are piling up for USD.
-Wright again with a 3 point play opportunity, this guy can really play. Transfer from Utah. Wright finishes the three point play.
-Naar answers with a two from ten feet.
First Media Timeout: USD 43, SMC 37.
-Piniero gets back to the line and knocks down both free throws.
-Nice mini drive and jumper made by Gray.
-Neal back in for SMC, and gets back to the line. Makes one of two.
-SMC is now 0 for 7 on threes tonight, which is incredible. Nearly had one there after an in-n-out shot from Hermanson.
-There it is! The first three pointer with 12:20 to go. Made by Krebs. Great ball movement by the Gaels.
Second Media Timeout: USD 49, SMC 45.
-Naar with a sweet driving layup for the Gaels.
-Nice Blocked shot by Fitzner. Wright had to force a no good three. Good stop for SMC.
-Naar another sweet layup after a left handed drive. Game tied at 49. Timeout USD.
-Wright once again makes a move at the end of the shot clock and draws a foul. This time misses both free throws.
-Fitzner cleans up a Londale miss and SMC leads for the first time in a long while.
-Naar with another gritty layup and one. Goes to the line and connects to make the lead for the Gaels suddenly five.
-Piniero gets called for travelling. Tough call, one of those road team calls.
-Surprising offensive foul called against Londale, however it's just his first foul.
-USD playing a bit more timid offensively, crowd is very loud. When SMC makes baskets, its tough for USD to create.
-Flagrant foul on Wright after grabbing Neal's shorts from behind.
Third Media Timeout: SMC 54, USD 49.
-Neal makes both Flagrant Free Throws. Naar gets another crafty basket. Suddenly the lead is 9.
-Piniero gets back to the line and makes both shots.
-Neal has been a pest on defense, draws a charge here.
-Big three pointer by Gray. Cuts the Gaels lead to four. But Londale gets a quick answer to bring the lead up to six.
-Cameron Neubauer (USD) picks up his fourth foul. Floresca is back in. Neal ends up making both.
-Wright back to the line again, but only makes one of two. Gaels lead is five.
-Piniero with a nice 16 foot jumper, cuts the lead to three.
-Fourth foul now on Floresca as Londale continues to back down on any USD player.
Fourth Media Timeout: SMC 62, USD 59.
-Piniero another big make, this time in the lane after a nice spin move.
-Londale answers with a baby hook down low.
-Neal with a griity drive and finish. Gaels now lead by 6.
-Wright misses a tough layup and SMC is beginning to milk some clock. Londale gets called for a moving screen.
-Naar eventually gets fouled, makes both. SMC lead is 8 with under a minute left.
-Piniero dribbles the ball off of his foot and things are looking dim for the Torreros.
-A few fouls back and forth here. USD trailing by 7 now. Under 30 seconds remain.
-SMC runs out the clock.
Final Score: Saint Mary's 70, San Diego 63.
1st Half Notes:
-Steal and Dunk for Isaiah Piniero (USD) to open the game, heck of a kickoff for the Torreros.
-Calvin Hermanson (SMC) has a soft left handed touch, beautiful runner in the lane to get SMC on the board.
-SMC has 6 Australians on the roster and 3 of them start (Londale, Naar, Krebs).
-Pretty sloppy beginning. Great block from behind by Hermanson on Piniero. Londale also with a nice block during that sequence.
SMC leads USD 6-5 at first Media Timeout.
-USD really playing strong defense and creating shots in transition.
-USD Halfcourt offense really relying on Isaiah Wright (USD)to create.
-Tanner Krebs (SMC) Airballed from straight away three land. Ouch.
-Londale is a force down low, USD doing all the can to keep him out of the paint. He got to the line once in this sequence.
USD leads 15-11 at the second Media Timeout.
-Tough offensive foul called aginst Evan Fitzner (SMC). Crowd boos.
-Piniero had a nice take to the hoop and finished.
-Piniero trying to lay into Londale defensively, one quick spin to from Jock and a dunk for SMC.
-Wright draws a foul while shooting a three, makes two of three.
-Nice looking jump hook shot for reserve forward Alex Floresca, good for two (USD)
-Wright gets to the line again and this time it's a 3 point play opportunity.
USD leads SMC 24-17 at the third Media Timeout.
-Great move by Piniero to get by his defender and draw a foul, then he made both free throws
-After a steal by Olin Carter (USD), he missed an open layup, and on the other end Hermanson finishes with a layup of his own.
-Next possession for SMC, Naar takes it to the hole and completes a three point play.
-USD had a nice stop, but Piniero got called with a ticky tack 2nd foul.
USD leads SMC 26-22 at the fourth Media Timeout.
-Piniero picks up another tough foul and he now has three. Londale giving USD issues inside as expected.
-Wright has a very strong left hand dribble, gets into the lane and dishes to Juwan Gray for two.
-Lamont Smith, USD Head Coach throws his jacket off after another call goes the Gaels way. Londale has made 4 Free throws in the last 30 seconds.
-Huge answer by Gray with a Three pointer.
-Cullen Neal (SMC) gets a three point play opportunity and connects. Great back and forth happening right now.
-Neal again uses some fancy footwork to get into the lane and finishes.
-McKeon Pavilion gets incredibly noisy!
-Wright calms the crowd down with a nice driving layup.
Halftime: USD 33, Saint Mary's 31.
Pregame Notes:
This should be a great clash between Saint Mary's highly effective offense, and USD's nationally recognized defense.
- USD's Third Straight Road Game.
- USD is #1 Nationally in 3 pt. Defense (23.6%)
- USD is #2 Nationally in effective FG% Defense (41%)
- St. Mary's has the #3 Nationally ranked Effective offense according to KenPom
- St. Mary's shoots 41% from 3 pt. range - 11th in the Nation.
- St. Mary's is 7th nationally in effective FG% Offense. (59.2%)
Should be quite the clash tonight!