Courtesy: Tod Fierner Mickey McConnell slashes past Billy White for a second half basket.
Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's men's basketball team took down San Diego State, 80-58, making them 2-0. Falling to the Aztecs last season 70-66 in the quarterfinals of the 2009 NIT, SMC came out strong and unfaltering in the 11 PM tip-off of the ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon at McKeon Pavilion.
Aztec, Malcolm Thomas, took the lead 1-0, in the first minute from the free throw line, but the Gaels quickly countered. Two 3-pointers from Mickey McConnell and a lay-up from Ben Allen, gave Saint Mary's the lead 5-1.
McConnell continued his shooting spree, hitting 4-for-4 from the three-point line, as a part of the Gaels 22-4 run in the next seven and half minutes. Among those to contribute to the Gaels run was Matthew Dellavedova. Doubling down to strip Thomas of the ball, Dellavedova sent the outlet pass to McConnell, and received it back for fast break three. McConnell went on to hit his fifth 3-pointer of the half, without missing from long-range in the first 20 minutes.
Saint Mary's shot an impressive 53 percent from behind the arc, more then doubling San Diego State's field goal percentage of 21 percent. Omar Samhan swooped up 12 rebounds in the first half, nine of which were on the defensive end. The Gaels finished the first half with a lead of 42-21.
Thomas came out strong in the second half for San Diego State, with two quick buckets in the paint, cutting the lead 42-25. McConnell countered though, switching from his first half attack on the perimeter, to a slash in the middle, finishing with a running lay-up.
As the Gaels outside shooting dropped off in beginning of the second half, Samhan and Thomas battled against each other for buckets in the paint. Less then five minutes into the half, Samhan brought down an offensive board for an and-one put-back, upping Saint Mary's lead 52-32 and securing his 24th career double-double.
The Aztecs went on a seven-point run for the next two minutes, but Samhan broke the streak with a bucket in the paint, making the score, 54-39. Despite San Diego State's increased pressure on the defensive end, Saint Mary's didn't let up. McConnell added another 3-pointer, setting his career-high at six in a single game. He led the team with a career-high 24 points, and an impressive five assists. McConnell said of his play, "I had a few more looks then usual, and shot more then I usually do and luckily today they were falling."
Samhan tied his career-high in rebounds with 16, making him the third all-time leader in school history. He finished the game strong with 17 points, four assist, and five blocks.
The Gaels face Vanderbilt on Friday, November 20 in McKeon Pavilion at 8:30 PM. Head Coach Randy Bennett expects it to be a tough game, and said he doesn't think, "you can't find a harder schedule for the first three games."
Courtesy: Tod Fierner
