Saint Mary's defeats LMU 73-78

Saint Mary's Pulls Off Thrilling 78-73 Win Over LMU in Conference Showdown

The Gersten Pavilion was electric on Tuesday night as Saint Mary's (AWAY) edged out LMU (HOME) 78-73 in a back-and-forth conference battle that had all the makings of a classic. The visiting Gaels proved to be just the team LMU needed a wake-up call for, snapping the Tigers' four-game winning streak.

The game was tied at 33-33 at halftime, setting the stage for an intense second half that would see both teams battle for every point. Saint Mary's came out strong in the final frame, stretching their lead to as many as seven points before LMU staged a furious comeback. The Tigers trailed by just five with under two minutes remaining, but couldn't quite claw their way back into contention.

For the Gaels, Dillan Shaw was the catalyst for the decisive win, scoring 18 of his team-high 14 points in the second half. Shaw's hot shooting from beyond the arc (4-7) proved to be the difference-maker, as Saint Mary's weathered LMU's late push and claimed a hard-fought 78-73 victory.

LMU's Rodney Brown Jr. led all scorers with 22 points, but it was his supporting cast that ultimately fell short. Myron Amey Jr. chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Jalen Shelley added 13 points and three assists to round out the Tigers' top-three performers.

For Saint Mary's, Paulius Murauskas (9 rebounds, 13 points) was a force to be reckoned with on the glass, and Joshua Dent dished out five assists to complement his own 14 points. The Gaels' balanced attack allowed them to stay ahead of the pace despite LMU's valiant effort.

In terms of advanced statistics, both teams shot efficiently from beyond the arc (Saint Mary's 60.0%, LMU 42.0%), while Saint Mary's held a significant edge in rebounding margin (36.7% vs 33.3%). The Gaels also outscored the Tigers by 8.6 points in the paint, where they controlled possession and exploited LMU's defensive vulnerabilities.

With the win, Saint Mary's improved to [insert record] on the season, while LMU fell to [insert record]. The result marked a significant statement from both teams as they head into their respective conference schedules, with the Gaels looking to build momentum and the Tigers seeking to bounce back from a tough defeat.