MORAGA — An enormous video banner popped up on the scoreboard and T-shirts with 500 emblazoned on them had been handed out. Randy Bennett had his five hundredth profession victory at Saint Mary’s with a 68-59 win over visiting USF on Thursday night time, however No. 501 was crowding into his ideas.
“I'm doing my half on this — I get pleasure from it, I admire it,” Bennett instructed a larger-than-usual group of reporters afterward. “However I'm so locked in on the season. We received tonight. In an hour or two I’ll flip the script and right here comes Gonzaga. We’ll have our fingers full.”
The 18th-ranked Gaels, taking part in in entrance of a capability crowd, improved to 20-4 and stay alone atop the West Coast Convention standings at 9-0.
“The large win was beating USF. To get to 9-0, taking place the house stretch right here. It’s actually arduous to consider it another approach than that proper now,” Bennett mentioned. “In time you’ll mirror again and the reminiscences you may have of the gamers and coaches . . . that’s why we’re sitting right here.”
Chris Gerlufsen, in his first season as head coach at USF (15-10, 4-6), saluted Bennett for his efficiency over 22 seasons at Saint Mary’s.
“What an accomplishment for him, a man who coaches the precise approach,” Gerlufsen mentioned. “His groups are disciplined. They play it the precise approach on each side of the ball. (I’m) not stunned that he’s received 500 video games. The names change however the way in which they play doesn't.
“So, congratulations to him. Sorry that that needed to come in opposition to us, however I’m certain there’ll be much more wins for him as nicely.”
No. 12 Gonzaga (19-4, 8-1) and All-America ahead Drew Timme beat Santa Clara 88-70 to arrange Saturday night time’s sold-out showdown for first place. With a win, the Gaels can go two video games up on the WCC’s perennial heavyweight.
The Gaels entered the day because the nation’s fourth-stingiest protection, permitting simply 57.1 factors per recreation. The Zags are the highest-scoring staff within the land, placing up 86.3 per recreation.
“We’ve acquired to play higher than we did tonight, offensively, for certain.” Bennett mentioned. ‘You’re going to have to attain to beat them. And it's important to do a superb job of guarding them and guarding Timme. Preserve ‘em out of transition. It's a must to have a very good defensive effort to beat them.”
Senior guard Logan Johnson, who scored 12 factors in opposition to USF, mentioned the Gaels tried to make Thursday night time like another recreation.
“We knew the significance of it . . . we had it at the back of our heads. Earlier than the sport we talked about it. He (Bennett) didn’t speak about it in any respect,” Johnson mentioned. “It’s lovely . . . simply to be part of his five hundredth, that’s enormous. It’s an honor to be a degree guard for him proper now.”
Johnson additionally was prepared to show the web page to Gonzaga, whom the Gaels beat at house a yr in the past when the Zags had been ranked No. 1.
Requested what profitable once more would require, he mentioned, “Take each possession at a time. You may’t fast-forward performs if issues are going proper for five minutes. You’ve acquired to have issues go proper for 40 minutes.”
Saint Mary’s stayed good in WCC play regardless of capturing simply 33 p.c from the sector. The Gaels did virtually all the things else nicely, holding the Dons to their season-low level complete, profitable the rebounding battle 39-23 and utilizing their aggressiveness to create a 32-for-37 night time on the free throw line.
“We actually struggled second half offensively, however we had been gritty sufficient,” Bennett mentioned.
The Gaels led 36-27 at halftime and prolonged their margin to 13 factors earlier than the Dons got here alive. They took a 50-49 lead after a 12-0 run that included two 3-pointers by Marcus Williams and a go-ahead layup by Khalil Shabazz with 5:35 left.
Saint Mary’s freshman guard Aidan Mahaney scored 17 factors, together with a 3-pointer with 1:43 left to cap an 8-0 burst that pushed the Gaels right into a 61-55 lead. USF acquired no nearer than 4 factors the remainder of the night time.
Alex Ducas led the Gaels with 18 factors and heart Mitchell Saxen had 10 factors and 10 rebounds. Shabazz scored 16 for USF and Williams added 14, together with 4 3-pointers.