MORAGA — Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett received his five hundredth recreation Thursday evening however visiting USF made the 18th-ranked Gaels work for it earlier than securing a 68-59 victory.
Down 55-53 with 4 minutes left, the Gaels took cost with an 8-0 run that included six factors from freshman Aidan Mahaney. His 3-pointer with 1:43 left pushed the result in 61-55.
Mahaney, who scored 17 factors, fouled out with 1:22 left and USF’s Khalil Shabazz made two free throws to chop the margin to 4 factors. USF received no nearer than that.
Bennett now owns a document of 500-204 in 22 seasons and the Gaels have received 20 video games for the fifteenth yr in a row, excluding the shortened 2020-21 COVID season.
The Gaels (20-4, 9-0) stay alone atop the West Coast Convention however face a severe problem Saturday evening at house towards No. 14 Gonzaga (19-4, 8-1), which beat Santa Clara 88-70 on Thursday evening.
Alex Ducas scored 17 factors for the Gaels, Logan Johnson had 12 factors and Mitchell Saxen had 10 factors and 10 rebounds. Saint Mary’s shot 32 for 37 from the free throw line in a recreation that featured 43 private fouls.
Khalil Shabazz led the Dons (15-10, 4-6) and Marcus Williams scored 15.
The Gaels led 36-27 at halftime and their margin reached 13 factors halfway by means of the second half earlier than the Dons got here alive. They took a 50-49 lead after a 12-0 run that included two 3-pointers by Williams and a go-ahead layup by Shabazz with 5:35 left.
HUGE 3️⃣🔥
📺 : ESPNU@saintmaryshoops | #WCChoopspic.twitter.com/0EeVq168k8
— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) February 3, 2023